Easter grace: St. John’s senior seeks deeper engagement in Church’s sacramental life

In high school, like many fellow students, Blake Zavala was busy. So busy that when the time came to prepare for the sacrament of confirmation, he passed up the opportunity.

Now a senior at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Blake recalls arriving at college with his faith on the back burner. Not that faith wasn’t important. “I just didn’t make it a priority,” he said.

Students from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University were presented to Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., during the Rite of Election Feb. 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Pictured from left are: Benedictine Father Nick Kleespie, Audrey Olson (sponsor for Natalie), Natalie Welinski, Alec Chamberlain (an RCIA assistant), Hiatt Boileau, Richard Guerue, Benedictine Father Roger Klassen and Blake Zavala. (Photo courtesy of Father Nick Kleespie)

This year he made it a priority and is one of four students who will be received into full communion with the Church at the 9 p.m. student Mass April 16 at St. John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville.

Blake and two other students, Richard Guerue, ’23, and Natalie Welinski, ’25, are candidates preparing to be confirmed. Hiatt Boileau, ’23, is a catechumen and will be baptized, receive first Communion and be confirmed.

Blake, a biology major graduating this spring, was baptized as a baby and had his first Communion. He has been an active member of the 9 p.m. Mass community during his four years at St. John’s. But he hadn’t taken that last step of full initiation into the Church.

“I figured, ‘Well, I don’t really think I need it. I know that I am who I am. I have my faith in God.’ And I figured that alone would just be enough for me,” he said.

But his friends urged him to take a leap of faith. They told him about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults through SJU’s campus ministry, reminding him how attending Mass regularly helped him through tough times in his life.

For some high school students, other pursuits or family circumstances, such as moving to a new community, get in the way of them receiving regular faith formation and sacramental preparation, according to Benedictine Father Nick Kleespie, SJU chaplain.

“Students like Blake find themselves in college wanting to ask the big questions about their faith,” he said. “They also seek a greater desire to participate in the life of the Church, particularly the sacramental life of the Church.”

Blake Zavala (photo by Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

Blake remembers being “at odds with God,” at times as a teen. One of the darker times, he said, was when his mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. It was detected early, which his family views as a sign from God, he said. But he still questioned why God would allow this to happen to her.

“Sometimes you become at odds with God,” he said. “But then, after a lot of introspection, a lot of looking back, and even during those moments too, I would see … he’s really helped me in my life and my family as well. He has always been present.

“Looking back, I’m glad my friends planted the seed in my mind,” he added.

There was no pressure, he said. “As much as they thought it would be good to be confirmed, it was ultimately my decision.”

“I think it has taken a lot of courage for Blake to say ‘yes’ to the process of formation and confirmation,” Father Kleespie said. “With so many things competing for time in the lives of young people like Blake, he has chosen to join a group of other young people and learn more about their faith and God’s love for them.”

Lisa Nutkowicz, Blake’s mom, sees a general decline among people in spiritual practice and involvement, she said, and she is glad that “Blake has chosen to step away from this trend and begin his Christian journey by professing his commitment to his faith.

“He has been out of the traditional sequence for a while, and I’m overjoyed he made the decision to complete one of the most meaningful sacraments, a commitment to our Catholic faith which invokes spiritual strength and grace from the Holy Spirit,” Nutkowicz said. “I am beyond proud, very happy and excited as Blake embarks on this spiritual journey.”

His parents, who are members of St. Dominic Mission in Rio Verde, Arizona, won’t be able to attend the Mass but will watch the livestream. Nutkowicz said she has a care package for him to open on that special day.

Blake said he views this commitment as a strengthening of his relationship with God.

“I’ve never felt something move in my soul that made me realize that God is there,” Blake said. “But it’s through the things that I’ve seen and the things that I’ve experienced happening completely out of my control. Things are at their darkest, and you really think this is it, it’s out of the frying pan, into the fire. It’s at that little moment that God just turns the tide, and then somehow, you don’t land in the fire, you land just right on the stove. It’s those little moments that I look back and I know that God was working there all along.”

He also knew he wanted to be able to participate fully in the sacraments, especially if he were to get married someday, he said.

“Surrounded by their classmates and friends, these young people witness to the Holy Spirit coming among our community in new and creative ways,” Father Kleespie said. “The four of them — Hiatt, Natalie, Richard and Blake — witness to our entire community what it means to deepen our relationship with the Church, serve God’s people, and seek God with an open and loving heart.”

Author: Dianne Towalski

Dianne Towalski is a multimedia reporter for The Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine.

1 comment

Bob,
Congratulations on your retirement, good and faithful servant. I’m retired and working in Tucson for the winter. I may be back at SJU next school year.

Every blessing, Dale Nau

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