Name: Kevin J. Anstey
Age: 27
Family: Dennis and Belinda, Nick, Matt, Carrie, Megan
Occupation before entering the seminary: Sewer/street maintenance, furniture mover, mechanic, millwright
Home parish and city: St. Patrick’s, Ottumwa
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle
Seminary: University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill.
Year in seminary: second-year theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? Growing sense that I had more to give.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? St. Francis
Name: Robert John Cloos
Age: 53
Family: I have five other brothers and two sisters. My mother passed away in December of 2010 and my father is still with us.
Occupation before entering the seminary: I worked in the accounting field for two years after college and then I worked in the construction and maintenance field.
Home parish and city: Ss. Peter & Paul, Springbrook, Iowa. I grew up in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle Catholic
Seminary: Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.
Year in seminary: I am in my second year of theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? My calling came when I felt I was not doing what I was supposed to be doing. I consecrated myself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I began praying to God to reveal His will for my life, and after a year of praying the thought of the priesthood came out of nowhere into my mind. The thought continued to come to me until I took action to pursue the call.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? St. Paul and Blessed John Paul II
Name: Corey Christian Close
Age: 27
Family: Parents: Wayne and Heidi Close; brother, Chris, 34, married with two daughters; sister, Katie, 30, married with two daughters
Occupation before entering the seminary: Student, completed a B.S. in computer science
Home parish and city: I consider St. Mary’s in Iowa City my home parish.
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle
Seminary: University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill. (2006-2008); Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State (2008-2013)
Year in seminary: fourth-year theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? When I was in seventh grade (and I attended a public school), a fellow student told me I would make a great priest, and it struck me in a way that is not purely logical. I knew that this was my calling. I ended up fighting it for 10 years because I was afraid, but finally, in my senior year of college, had the courage to say yes.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? Above all, I admire the faculties at the two seminaries I have had the privilege of attending. Their example of holiness, prayer, and their dedication to making us the best priests we can be has been truly inspiring, and I know that their witness has changed my life.
Name: Ross Epping
Age: 22
Family: Parents Edwin and Peggy; four brothers: Drew (26), Ian (19), Cole (17), Will (10)
Occupation before entering the seminary: May 2011 graduate of St. Ambrose University, Davenport — B.A. in theology, B.A. in philosophy
Home parish and city: St. John, Blairstown, Iowa
Seminary: University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill.
Year in seminary: pre-theology I
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? I think that I’ve felt God’s call for many years. However, it just took time for me to mature in my faith. During my senior year at St. Ambrose, I was back and forth on whether or not to enter seminary or enter graduate school. Talking with various priests and other religious, and actually taking that time to listen to what God truly wanted of me, I decided that it was time to enter seminary.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? There are many spiritual people who have impacted my life, but there are two that really stick out. The first is St. Francis of Assisi. The love that Francis possessed and the way he emulated that love is truly astounding and uplifting to me. An example of true Christian being, St. Francis is both my own patron saint and my confidant.
The second is much more recent and hails from the wonderful country of Poland. Pope John Paul II is also an excellent example of true Christian love. From his strong connection and work with the youth, to his active involvement with the various religions of the world, Pope John Paul II was one of those religious leaders who truly emulated Jesus the Christ.
Name: Jacob Greiner
Age: 29
Family: Father: Kevin Greiner; mother: Kathleen Greiner; sister: Dr. Jennifer Stevens (Brian); brother: Justin Greiner (Julie)
Occupation before entering the seminary: teacher
Home parish and city: Holy Trinity Parish, Keota
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle Catholic
Seminary: St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
Year in seminary: third-year theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? I felt the call at an early age, but I accepted the call as I grew in my Catholic faith through study and prayer.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? saints: St. Francis Xavier and St. André Bessette; modern leader/saint: Blessed John Cardinal Henry Newman, Blessed Teresa of Kolkata.
Name: Nicholas Michael Marie, but I’m called Nick
Age: 20
Family: Parents: Tom and Linda Marie. Three older siblings: George, Danny and Rachael.
Occupation before entering the seminary: I entered seminary straight out of high school.
Home parish and city: St. James Parish, Washington
Cradle Catholic or convert: I am a cradle Catholic
Seminary: Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo.
Year in seminary: sophomore
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? I felt the call in many ways. When I was a kid I told God if he’d defend my family I’d be a priest for him. I forgot this for a while until I was inspired by the example of a very great priest who showed me how happy the priesthood is and what a priest can do for people.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? The spiritual leader who inspired me the most was Pope John Paul II.
Name: Anastacio Ponce
Age: 34
Family: My parents are Caritina Muñoz and Anastacio Ponce (deceased). I am the youngest of four boys: my brothers are Gaspar, Oscar and Ramon.
Occupation before entering the seminary: I worked at a pharmacy and taught Latin and Spanish at the high school seminary in Mexico.
Home parish and city: I am originally from Veracruz, Mexico. I consider St. Mary of the Visitation in Ottumwa to be my home parish. I was ordained to the diaconate there on Aug. 20
Cradle Catholic or convert: I was raised in a Catholic family who blessed me with the gift of faith.
Seminary: University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.
Year in seminary: fourth-year theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? As an adolescent, I was involved with a Catholic youth group in my parish. A chaperone invited me to a “Come and See” week at the high school seminary. I believe that this was actually an invitation from God because I feel that God is calling me to the priesthood, to a life of service. I firmly believe that this is where God wants me to be. Because God never leads us into anything that is not beneficial to us, I trust that all will be well.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? Pope John Paul II. I admire the humility, faith, and courage he lived and his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, etc.
Name: Andrew Rauenbuehler
Age: 20
Family: Mark and Sharon Rauenbuehler, Rachel, Luke, Anna, Therese
Occupation before entering the seminary: novice in religious community, the Family of Mary, in Rome, Italy
Home parish and city: Ss. Mary and Mathias, Muscatine
Cradle Catholic or convert: cradle Catholic
Seminary: Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo.
Year in seminary: freshman
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? Since childhood I have felt as if God wanted me to serve Him and his people as a priest. That desire and call matured through the years and has helped shape where I am today.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? Pope St. Pius X
Name:William D. Roush
Age: 58
Family: My wife Cindy passed away Nov. 2, 1997. My oldest daughter Elsabeth is 23 and a graduate of Simpson College. My youngest daughter is 21 and a senior at University of Northern Iowa, majoring in biology.
Occupation before entering the seminary: I worked for Monsanto Corporation in Muscatine for 25 years. I became a stay-at-home father after Cindy’s passing. I accepted a separation package from Monsanto that allowed me to designate my own hours of work through two small business partnerships in the Iowa City area.
Home parish and city: My home parish is St. Mary’s in Iowa City.
Cradle Catholic or convert: I am a convert to Catholicism.
Seminary: I am in my first year of theology at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? I have had many influential people in religious life who have been mentors for me, especially during my times of desolation, and recognizing that I could be that person for others gives me great pleasure. I know what it has meant to me to have these people in my life. I will never forget the feeling of contentment that filled my soul when Father Ken Kuntz asked if I had ever considered seminary.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? I have many, that is a hard decision to make. I think I would have to say St. Ignatius of Loyola, particularly because of his methodology around the discernment of the Spirit.
Name: Guillermo Treviño Jr.
Age: 25
Family: Mother, Maria Treviño; Father, Guillermo Treviño (deceased); two sisters: Mariela and Jennifer Treviño; three nieces: Joana Kristina Gutierrez, Khloe Haze Treviño and Stella Lacy Champion; one nephew, Daniel Vargas
Occupation before entering the seminary: Reporter for Hola America, Family Literacy Student Aide, Black Hawk College
Home parish and city: St. Mary’s Moline, Ill.
Cradle Catholic or convert: Born Catholic, little faith when dad died, came back after my junior year in high school
Seminary: University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill.
Year in seminary: second-year theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? I sensed God was calling me when Father Rudy Juarez would have me meet with the vocations director at that time, then-Father Robert Gruss, when I was supposed to meet with him about other issues.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? St. Ignatius of Loyola
Name: Chris Weber
Age: 33
Family: I am an only child. My mother passed away in June of this year. My father is a retired farmer.
Occupation before entering the seminary: director of youth and young adult ministry
Home parish and city: I grew up in St. John the Evangelist, Independence, Iowa. My home parish in the Diocese of Davenport is Ss. Mary & Mathias of Muscatine
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle
Seminary: St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. Paul, Minn.
Year in seminary: first-year pre-theology
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? The Lord has been working on me for a long time. He has spoken to me most strongly through the people he has put in my life. In my most recent reflections I have realized that he has used the example of good and holy priests in our diocese who are truly happy in their vocation to allow me the courage to answer this call.
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? This is such a tough question — as there are so many. Blessed John Paul II, St. John Bosco and St. Francis of Assisi, to name a few.
Name: Deacon Stephen Witt
Age: 62.9
Family: son Kevin Witt; daughter Julie; daughter Courtney who is married to Gus Vassilides, and their son, Jack
Occupation before entering the seminary: Retired from mechanical sales firm
Home parish and city: St. Mary’s, Grinnell
Cradle Catholic or convert: Cradle
Seminary: Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wis.
Year in seminary: second semester, third year
How did you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood? It took a long time, but it was a sense that after my wife’s death there was something more that needed to be done and so I prayed and consulted with friends, who were priests, and finally was moved to take a risk and call Father Marty (Goetz, who was vocations director at the time).
Which spiritual leader do you admire most? John XXIII
