by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
The seed for a vocation to the priesthood was planted and nurtured throughout Deacon Daniel Mauro’s early life.
But it was a keynote speech by Father Mike Schmitz at a Fellowship of Catholic University Students SEEK conference during his freshman year of college that solidified the calling.
“He was speaking to the young people very honestly about the state of the faith in our country,” said Deacon Mauro.
Father Schmitz contrasted those who are facing persecution, torture and even death for the Catholic faith in other countries to the many young people in the United States who are willingly fleeing it.
“I was aware of that cultural happening,” said Deacon Mauro. “But in this moment, it really struck me to the heart.
“It was abundantly clear in that moment, as if I heard God say, ‘I want you to be my priest.’ I felt pretty strongly this is what I’m being called to do.”
Deacon Mauro will be ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Nativity in Leawood.
He is the third of four children of Christy and Frank Mauro and grew up in Overland Park, where he attended Holy Spirit School.
Christy practiced nursing until he was born, then stayed home to raise the children, and Frank continues to work in medical sales.
Deacon Mauro grew up attending Mass with his family on Sundays and praying before meals.
He was an altar server under the leadership of Father Richard Storey, who was the pastor at Holy Spirit for most of his grade school years and a role model to him.
“It was clear he wanted to pass on the faith, not just to be a good administrator,” said Deacon Mauro.
Deacon Mauro remembers Father Storey leading the school in eucharistic adoration.
“The whole grade school would fall to their knees at the same time when Our Lord came into the church,” he said. “I remember that sticking out to me.”
Deacon Mauro’s faith deepened along with his family’s during his middle school years.
“We started praying together the family rosary,” he said, easing into it with one decade at a time before eventually working up to the full devotion.
Deacon Mauro was particularly influenced by his older sister, who entered religious life with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of La Matara (SSVM) when he was in high school.
“She encouraged me to have courage in following Christ,” he said. “Her coming to know Christ more deeply was a huge help for me.”
His time at Camp Tekakwitha at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg and the mentorship of multiple faculty members at St. James Academy in Lenexa, where he attended high school, were also impactful.
Deacon Mauro isn’t surprised by the number of religious vocations that have come out of St. James.
“The theology classes are excellent,” he said. “But more than that, there was this sense that we have a gift in our Catholic faith, and we want to pass that on to you.”
By the end of high school, Deacon Mauro was considering the priesthood, but he was still drawn to married life and attended Benedictine College in Atchison, where he studied biology/pre-med for one year.
After being moved by Father Schmitz’s talk, he applied for the seminary and began studies at Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis, then went on to attend Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
He wants to be a priest to share the beauty of the Catholic faith with others.
“[It’s] thinking about the gifts of the Catholic faith — the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the closeness of Our Lady, all the ways that carried me through so many hard times,” he said.
“This gift of our faith is immense,” he continued, “and people — without ever being told how good it is — are then walking away without realizing what it is they’re losing.”
Deacon Mauro is grateful for all the people who’ve helped him along his journey toward the priesthood.
“As I reflect on these years,” he said, “it’s only by the prayers of so many people that I know I’m here.
“I know these are essential parts of me being able to be here today to do God’s will.”
Deacon Daniel Mauro
• Age: 27 (as of May 10)
• Born: May 10, 1998
• Raised: Overland Park
• Home parish: Holy Spirit, Overland Park
• Parents: Frank and Christy Mauro
• Siblings: One sister and two brothers.
Their names are Sister Mary of Jesus (SSVM), Jonathan and Sam.
• Education: Holy Spirit, St. James Academy, Benedictine College, St. Louis University, Cardinal Glennon College Seminary, Kenrick Seminary.
• Favorite food: Mediterranean
• My favorite activity as a child was: building things or playing pingpong with my two brothers.
• Best job I’ve ever had: Camp counselor at Camp Tekakwitha
• Favorite musical artist: Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
• If you were making a movie of your life, who would play you and why? Tom Holland, because Google says we are almost the same age and almost the same height.
• Aside from Christ and his mother, the biblical character I most want to know more about is: Daniel the prophet, because I share his name, and I have a number of questions about the stories in his book.
• Favorite Scripture passage: “No greater love has man than this: to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).
• I deal with failure by: saying/surrendering to God: “Make good my imperfect work!”
• If I have an important decision to make, I start by: asking God to give me light, and usually letting it sit on the back of my mind for a while.
• If I hadn’t felt called to become a priest, my dream job would have been: either a physician or a teacher.
