Rooted in Faith: From Our Parish to the Priesthood

This Priesthood Appreciation Weekend, we celebrate the gift of the priesthood and the men who courageously listen for God’s call. For Daniel Rogge, that call has been shaped by a lifetime of faith, family, and the St. Thomas More community.

Vocations rarely begin with one defining moment. More often, they begin as a small seed planted quietly, nurtured over time, and strengthened by the people and experiences God places along the way.

For Daniel Rogge, the first seeds of his faith were planted by his parents. But as that faith began to take root, his years at St. Thomas More School helped protect it and foster its growth. One experience, in particular, would have a lasting impact: becoming an altar server.

“Learning how to be an altar server caused me to take a closer look at the celebration of the Mass,” Daniel shared. “It helped open my eyes to the beauty of the liturgy.”

That experience continued into high school and became an important part of his faith journey. Through serving at the altar, Daniel began to encounter the Mass not simply as something he attended, but as something he could enter more deeply. The thought of priesthood first crossed Daniel’s mind during high school and early college. But a passing thought eventually became a question he could no longer ignore.

During college, Daniel participated in a priestly discernment group connected with the monks at Benedictine College. At the time, he ultimately decided that priesthood was not yet the path God was asking him to pursue. After graduating, Daniel moved to Arizona, where he began teaching. It was there that the question returned.

Eventually, he reached out to Father Rueb, who was serving as the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph. From there, Daniel’s discernment continued to grow through prayer, conversation, and the encouragement of priests, religious, and friends.

He credits several people who helped him take the possibility of priesthood seriously, including Father Rueb; Prior Leven and Brother Maximilian from Benedictine College; Fathers Richard, Justin, and Holley in Arizona; and friends who were always willing to listen and talk.

Today, Daniel is beginning his seminary formation at Conception Seminary College. And while his journey is just beginning, he was only entering his second week of classes when he reflected on his experience. He already recognizes the tremendous grace surrounding him. “I have experienced an incredible superabundance of gifts,” Daniel said.

Those gifts have come in many forms: prayers, financial support, written notes, conversations, encouragement, and the generosity of people he knows as well as complete strangers.

For Daniel, that support has made a profound difference. “To know that so many of the people of St. Thomas More are particularly praying for me, and my vocation adds another layer to the incredible amount of support that I am receiving,” he said. “All I can do is be truly grateful, and deeply moved by the love that God is showing me through all of these people.”

Seminary has already offered Daniel something that can be difficult to find in the pace of everyday life: time.His current stage of formation allows for a lighter academic schedule and greater emphasis on human and spiritual formation. Rather than immediately filling that space with activity, Daniel is learning how to simply be present to God, to his brother seminarians, and to the vocation he is discerning.

“I hope to discover how my heart truly rests and come to a deeper understanding of my relationship with God,” he said.For any young man wondering whether God might be calling him to the priesthood, Daniel offers simple but meaningful advice. “Dive into prayer,” he says. “Make time for it every day.”

He encourages young men to talk with priests, ask questions, take small and concrete steps, and pay attention to how God is working through the details of their lives. Most importantly, he says, there is no need to have everything figured out immediately. “Relax, you don’t have to have it all figured out.” Discernment is not about having every answer. It is about being willing to take the next faithful step.

As St. Thomas More celebrates Priesthood Appreciation Weekend on September 27, Daniel’s story offers an opportunity for our parish to reflect on something deeper than simply thanking our priests. It invites us to consider how we are helping create a culture where vocations can take root. Daniel’s story began, in part, at St. Thomas More School. It grew through service at the altar. It was strengthened by priests, religious, teachers, family, and friends. And today, it is being entrusted to God through the prayers and support of the Church.

One day, Daniel may stand at the altar as a priest. When that day comes, he hopes the people of St. Thomas More will know that they were part of his journey.