Getting to Know our Shepherd Fr. Jerry Volz

For over a year, our parish family has been abundantly blessed by the presence of Fr. Jerry Volz. His devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist is deeply inspiring, and his wise, generous heart touches us all. Since he was ordained on June 20, 1992, Fr. Jerry has given his time and talent as a priest in amazing ways, such as by serving in Lawrence at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center at the University of Kansas; as chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Associate Pastor at Prince of Peace in Olathe; as Director of the Didde Catholic Campus Center at Emporia State; and, finally, as Pastor of St. Matthew in Topeka and Pastor of Prince of Peace in Olathe. We feel honored to have him as our Pastor, and are grateful for the spiritual graces he has brought into our parish community. Out of a desire to get to know him better, we recently interviewed him, asking him the following questions:

What would you like to share about where you grew up, and what your family was like?

I grew up in Topeka as the youngest of five children. Our

Catholic faith was very important in our home, but we prayed and were frequently involved in our parish community and the

Catholic schools we attended as well. Our parents sacrificed much 4

so that we could attend Catholic schools, thus we lived very simply — we vacationed little and enjoyed leftovers and hand-me-downs.

Please tell us a little bit about your call to the priesthood. How did you first sense the call, and how did you move forward with your discernment?

Since Catholicism surrounded me, I always knew about the Church, but I came to know Jesus more in the midst of my struggles with self-knowledge as well as when I witnessed my father’s health decline. When I turned to Jesus for strength and understanding, as well as to the Church community, I began to desire to return all of the blessings I had received from others back to the Church. When my father died when I was only 18, I acknowledged that worldly success could not compare with doing something for God and His Church.

Where did you go to seminary, and what did you enjoy studying there?

I began seminary my junior year of college at Conception Seminary College in Missouri and then studied for four years at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. I always enjoyed studying psychology and the social sciences, as well as the liturgy.

You have made adoration a priority at the parish. Why do you believe it is so important to be committed to adoration at this time in the world and in the Church?

I have not really made it a priority. I would like to see more opportunities for adoration and will encourage more people to make adoration a priority in their week. We all can benefit by spending more time in private prayer before our Lord in the Eucharist. We all need more quiet time to listen to Jesus, who is always trying to speak to us through the Spirit. He delivers a peace in our hearts and loves us as we spend time with Him.

What are some of your favorite devotions? You have a deep spirituality. How do you nurture your relationship with Our Lord?

I try to spend a lot of time in prayer and devotions can help with that, but for me, the best prayer is prayer from the heart. Ignatian spirituality is good for me, as it helps me to focus on small passages from Scripture over and over again so that the Holy Spirit can relate it more to my life. Practicing an examination of conscience throughout the day keeps me close to God as well.

During the pandemic, you made sure your parishioners were able to receive the Eucharist despite the obstacles imposed. Why did you bravely insist on this, and what compelled you? Do you believe that no matter what we are facing, prayer and our faith should come first?

The Eucharist is the deepest and most intimate way any believer can come to know the Lord in their life, and we should never not want the Eucharist in our life. I could not imagine not having the Eucharist. I found it to be very unfortunate that many people were living in fear during the pandemic and denied themselves the Eucharist or were denied the Eucharist because of perceived risks. I think of the risk Jesus took in laying down His life for us and the risk in choosing to reveal Himself to us in the Eucharist out of a total gift of Himself for each of us. Why would we not want to receive that God? Why would we not want to receive Him any chance we could get? So that is why I make the reception of the Eucharist possible while challenging people to not forget participation in the Mass is the ideal way we participate in the one perfect sacrifice He made for us. Nothing should get in the way of our reception as there is nothing more important.

What do you believe is the main mission of your priestly calling?

My main mission is to promote and encourage the reception of the Eucharist in a worthy manner. People do not have a right to the Eucharist or the sacraments unless they realize with faith and understand what a privilege it is for them to receive them.

What blessings and spiritual blessings do you hope to bring to our parish family during your time with us?

Community can be formed in neighborhoods, work, and school, but a Catholic community must be centered around the Eucharist. The more we grow in our spiritual lives and our common call to Stewardship, the more we grow together as a community that is based not on a person or a place, but on the truth that comes from God.

Which Saint do you feel most drawn to, and why?

St. Ignatius of Loyola because of his prayers and spiritual exercises, and St. Therese of Lisieux because of her simple way of love.

What are some of the aspects of the priesthood that mean the most to you, and what are some of your most favorite memories of priestly service?

Celebrating the Mass and bringing the Eucharist and the other sacraments to people.

What are your hobbies?

Daily exercise, taking long hikes on trails, and going for long drives while listening to music.

What else would you like to share about yourself with the parish?

As much as I can be silly and have fun, being full of energy and activity, I am also an introvert and need time to myself.