Daniel Kogut

Theology I
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Home Parish: St. Peter, Eaton Rapids

The first time I can remember wanting to be a priest was when I was in bioethics class during college. Dr. Janet Smith was talking about a priest, Fr. Damian, who went to serve a leper community in Hawaii. Hearing the way in which Fr. Damian offered himself so completely for the sake of the people hit me pretty hard. This came at a time in my life when I was afraid that God might ask me to be a priest and so I had partly closed myself off to God. It was in hearing about Fr. Damian that I realized I would only be happy if I lived my life as a sacrifice for God and for others. In a new way, I had a strong desire to be generous with my life and to serve to God as completely as possible. I could think of no better way to do this than to be a priest. When I finally did open myself up to the idea of priesthood, I was overcome with a sense of joy and freedom that only comes when you know that you are not holding anything back from God.

At first, it wasn't clear whether I should seek out a religious order or study for a diocese. I thought that I should probably find a religious order, but none seemed to fit. After spending one week living at Christ the King with Fr. Ed Fride, I decided that I should give the diocesan priesthood a chance. It was through living with Fr. Ed that I began to realize that being a diocesan priest could fit with my strong desire to evangelize and to work with young people. So, one day, I decided to give Fr. Jerry a call and visit Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

It's been less than a year since I made the phone call to Fr. Jerry and I am already in my first year at Sacred Heart. I never would have guessed that God would put me here so fast. I don't know for sure whether God is calling me to serve Him in the diocesan priesthood, but I have the peace of knowing that I am in the right place to find the answer to that question.