Meet our seminarians: John Paul Narog

What seminary are you attending and where are you in the formation process?
This fall, I will be entering my third year of philosophy at the St. John Vianney College Seminary. 

John Paul Narog

When is your birthday? 

My birthday is July 28, on the feast of Pope St. Innocent I. 

What’s your home parish? 

My home parish is St. Mary Star of the Sea in Duluth. It is a beautiful old Polish church that has influenced the way I pray. 

Tell me a little about your family. 

I am the oldest of six kids. My parents are William and Katherine (known to many as Bill and Katie), and my siblings are Madeline, Lily, Daniel, Timothy, and Emily. I have very fond memories of being homeschooled by my mother with my siblings. 

Is there an email address where people can write to you? 

Yes! I would love to hear from you. If you wish, please contact me at [email protected] 

If people wanted to ask the intercession of a particular saint for you, what saint would you choose? 

St. Ignatius of Loyola is a special patron of mine. I have felt a strong attachment to him ever since I was young. His life is inspiring, especially his go-getter attitude! 

What are some of the things you like to do in your spare time? 

In my spare time I enjoy longboarding (it’s similar to skateboarding), writing music, reading, and mountain biking. 

What is your favorite devotion (and why)? 

Hands down, my favorite devotion is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I have heard this devotion explained as “God loving us with a human heart” (Father Nick Nelson). Consider how His Heart is so gentle, so kind, so patient with sinners. His Divine Heart is wounded by sins and hurt by the cold indifference of this world, and yet in every Mass, Jesus gives us His Heart all over again. How could you not fall in love with such a devotion? 

What’s the best thing about your home town? 

In my opinion, the best thing about Duluth is the lake! Fresh tap water, lake effect snow, “it’s cooler by the lake” are all great things about where I live. When I moved to the Cities for seminary, I felt that my sense of direction was gone. I had gotten so used to living near the lake that I always knew which direction it was in! 

What person has been the biggest help to you so far as you discern a call to the priesthood? 

There have been many, but I believe the credit belongs to two priests. Father Tony Wroblewski has always been a father that is ready to listen and give sound advice. I am deeply grateful for his guidance. Father Nick Nelson, our vocations director, has accompanied me through challenges and has counseled me many a time. He has influenced the way I want to live out priesthood, especially in the way that Holy Mass is offered. 

If someone asked you how to grow as a disciple of Jesus, what’s your best advice? 

Take action in your spiritual life. Thoughts of “I’ll do it later” pervade many lives. If life is lived with that attitude, we will die with many regrets. Commit to Jesus! Trust in Him! Take action! What does this look like? It is doing a family rosary on Saturday (Mary’s day). It is driving to your parish right after work for 15 minutes of prayer. It is stopping at the gas station to buy water for the homeless man on the street corner. Our Blessed Lord took action when He stepped down from Heaven to be with you and me. Let’s imitate Him. 

What does the priesthood mean in the life of the Church? 

Priesthood is not just ministry. It is identity. The priest is not only a counselor, confessor, and guide; he is first and foremost a son of God: this is the priest’s identity. By Holy Orders, the priest is deeply and irrevocably conformed to the sonship of Jesus. This is why we say the priest is an alter Christus: another Christ. The priest has a relationship with God the Father that no other Christian has. Just as Jesus is a mediator between God and man, between Creator and creature, so too is the priest; he shares in the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, priesthood is intrinsically a foundational piece of the Church. Your parish priest carries within himself the power to turn bread and wine into the veritable Body and Blood of the God-Man crucified 2,000 years ago. Your parish priest carries within himself the power to turn a soul dead from sin into a soul that is radiating life. The priesthood, therefore, is essential to the life and mission of the Church.