vPRIESTS continued from page 14
families, and the camaraderie I had with all the nursing staff. We were
a great team.
I see my priesthood as an extension of what I did as a nurse. It’s
all about serving God and neighbor. (Nurses do that every day, too!)
I was inspired to become a priest by another priest, Fr. Rudy Roxas,
who was the chaplain at the college I went to at the time. He was one
the happiest, smartest, funniest, and most compassionate priests I
have ever known. His personal example inspired me to look closer at
becoming a priest.
After working for a couple years as a nurse, I entered seminary
to see if it was something I could do the rest of my life. After I went
to seminary, it reconfirmed God’s call to serve him as a priest. I kept
working as a nurse during the summer months of my seminary years,
but I finally had to turn in the stethoscope when I was ordained. I still
have my nursing license on inactive status.
I have been a priest now for 23 years. It has been a joy to get to
know so many people and be a part of so many lives, both in joy and
sorrow.
Father D’Cruz Nicholas
I am from a small town called Kurseong,
in the foothills of the Himalayas, about 400
miles north of Kolkata (the city where St.
Mother Teresa founded her head quarters)
in India.
I studied in a Jesuit Catholic school and a
Jesuit College in India.
I joined the seminary after my high
school. I volunteered at the house for the
poor elderly managed by Mother Teresa’s nuns in Nepal for six months.
Volunteering at the house for the elderly with the sisters of St.
Mother Teresa had tremendous influence on me. There I learned how
to serve and be present to the elderly.
Fr. Gerard Van Wellingham, a Jesuit priest from Canada, used to be
my school Principal. He was a counselor, a great educator, a humble
person and a man of wisdom and courage. He had a great impact on
me and my faith. Following his example I wanted to be a missionary
and also have an experience of serving the poor. He helped me in my
discernment to join the seminary.
Odermann Valerian
I was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in
Dickinson, North Dakota. I lived on a
ranch in Billings County, where, as they say
“learning to drive before walking was the
norm” (I am) the oldest of seven.
After years of work on the ranch and
several years of college, I joined Assumption
Abbey in Richardton, North Dakota. I had
attended a prep school there run by the monks. I had an early interest
in the priesthood also.
It seems I grew into a “triple call.” The monastic call became the
foundation for all, but the calling to serve in the sacramental ministry
of a priest came first, only after contact with the monks did I see myself
being a priest in the Benedictine context, and a call to educate — I’ve
been involved in educating at one level or another throughout the
years — in Bogotá, Colombia, (14 years) at the secondary level and
many years at university level in the states.
18vHISVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
I get the most satisfaction looking back at the early Bogotá years,
when the Benedictine community went ahead with a plan to construct
a school to serve the local barrio—a social outreach which continues
today to educate 100s of youth, giving them a chance to envision a life
that was beyond the wildest dreams of their parents.
I try to never stop growing; live without regrets.
Father Valerian has bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Math
from St. Martin’s University in Olympia, Washington; a Master of
Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from St. Meinrad School of Theology
in Indiana; a master’s in Religious Studies from Indiana University
in Bloomington, and a doctorate in Education in Instructional
Leadership from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. n
vALTMAN continued from page 17
so much water that we cover, that it’s sad to say, but it’s becoming the
norm for us.”
— — — —2:25 p.m.
Altman’s final stop on this afternoon journey is to check another
area, this time a Controlled Hunter Access Program (CHAP) spot
located between Tabor and Yankton, just north of Highway 50.
Initially designated for youth hunting, this particular area has since
been open to adults to harvest deer, according to Altman.
The location is limited to six hunters per day and capped at 25-30 deer,
he adds.
“Most people are pretty appreciative of it,” Altman says, as he drives
through and looks across the fields. “We have a lot of repeat hunters
who sign up, and it’s a first-come, first-serve setup.”
From there, it’s back to the office.
Although his day is far from over, Altman jokes. No, he still
has to head east that night to continue work on a few ongoing
investigations.n
Hello loyal His Voice readers,
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “All good things must
come to an end.” Well the phrase now applies to the His Voice
portion of our magazine.
This phrase really shares the sense that everything that we have
done cannot be undone. No success can be taken away once it has
been achieved. So in essence, good things never really end; they
perhaps just come to the end.
When we added the His Voice portion of the magazine we had
high hopes that not only would we be able to find qualified writers
to fill the magazine with excellent local content but we also hoped
to have strong advertiser support.
Since neither of those has come to fruition we have decided
to just focus on the Her Voice magazine again starting with the
March/April edition and then moving forward.
We sincerely apologize as we know you’ve all enjoyed the entire
magazine but we hope you will continue to be loyal Her Voice
readers as you have in the past.
Thank you all and our wishes for a Happy New Year!
Micki Schievelbein
PS: We know you’ve enjoyed the writing of correspondent Brian
Teel in His Voice, but please be assured he will continue to share his
talents in Her Voice!
Also: Steve and Tracy Huff will continue sharing “His Eats” and
Angella and Ryan Byykkonen “Through The Lens” in Her Voice as
well!