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Jacob Mongan
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Kairos Yearj.mongan734gmail.comParish: St. Joseph Parish, Wautoma
Birthday: September 20
Holy Name of Jesus House of Formation
2589 S. Webster Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54301-2951
Which saint should people invoke for your vocation?
St. Anthony of Padua. He has been a faithful companion in my spiritual journey,
and he is also my confirmation saint. I have relied on his intersession countless
times and have never been left unanswered.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee. It tastes much better and, even if you don’t like the taste,
everyone can appreciate the smell.
If Jesus drove a vehicle during his public ministry, what
would it be?
Most likely a school bus; Jesus could fit all his apostles with him
wherever he went.
What is your ideal way to spend the Lord’s Day?
Starting the Lord’s Day with Mass is most fitting, followed by
praying the rosary. Continuing the day, I would then conquer
my family at afternoon board games and Kahoot. The evening
would include a canoe fishing adventure, followed by a bonfire
afterwards with s’mores to wrap up the day.
If you could celebrate Mass anywhere in the world, where
would you and why?
If given the opportunity, I would like to celebrate Mass at Our
Lady of the Pines Catholic Church located west of Yellowstone
National Park. My first visit to this small, cabin-like church was
in August of 2021 while on a family vacation. I very much enjoy
the picturesque view the church offers, accompanied by the
number of tourists that visit the parish. Being able to celebrate
Mass for people from all around the world in this small church in
such a beautiful location would be a privilege.
What spiritual book or author has most influenced your
journey of discipleship?
A biography of St. John Bosco from the Salesians deeply
influenced my discipleship journey; his work as a missionary
among young people really struck me, because he was a
dedicated father-figure to the boys on the streets who had no
one else. From altar serving, I have a heart and understanding
for other young men like me and see the tremendous value
of having someone to guide you in your faith. Vivid dreams
influenced the actions and direction of St. John Bosco’s life, and
he was known for the miracles that he worked in the lives of the
boys he served. At every opportunity, he found ways to bring
them toward the Kingdom of Heaven. St. John Bosco’s example
of faithfulness, simplicity, and tirelessness encourages me to
live out my faith in works without any fear and to have absolute
confidence in God’s love for us. His trust and faith in God inspire
me to ask, “How can we do the same thing for others?”
How is the Eucharist meant to foster unity in the Church?
“Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will
refresh you” (Matthew 11:28). In these words, Christ invites all
who experience burdens to receive refreshment through him.
All people are united in dealing with the burdens of life. This
is a reality whether the burdens are great or small. We can
experience them through the labor of our work, duties, and
relationships.
The Eucharist is an invitation from Jesus to humanity to be
united to him. This unity is something that can be received by
all people throughout the world. The Eucharist is a way for us
to foster hope and find refreshment from the burdens we all
deal with. Imagining the whole of humanity partaking in the
sacrament of the Eucharist seems a daunting task, but it is an
exciting prospect as Catholics to bring this unity with Christ to
all his children. Just spending time before the Blessed Sacrament
in adoration sets the soul on fire to share this experience of unity.
The Eucharist is something we ought not want to keep to
ourselves, for it is the love that Christ wishes to lavish upon us
through receiving him. The Eucharist is meant to bring unity
between us and the Lord and to unite the Church under one
belief in the True Presence of Christ that dwells within.
