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Ryan Braam ’14 and Alex Wyvill ’12
Indianapolis. “It was an exciting opportunity. At that event, I helped with player check-in and informal interviews. It was an ideal opportunity to connect with coaches and scouts for all 32 NFL teams.”
“This experience helped shape my future career aspirations by making me go outside of my comfort zone and really push myself past my limits,” said Greg. “I know much more about myself now than I did before. Through an extensive internship presentation that I did in front of the Colts staff, I was able to connect with staff members in multiple departments that interest me such as player personnel/scouting, salary cap and analytics. These staff members have been so willing to help me learn more and reach my career goals.” Ultimately, Greg enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the internship the most. “Accomplishing tasks and helping the team in any way that I can is very enjoyable. The long hours and grind of training camp is something that I love because of my passion for football and desire to learn something new every day. There were days when we were in the office for 17 hours, but I enjoyed those days the most.”
Ryan Braam ’14 and Alex Wyvill ’12 were ordained as priests in the Archdiocese of Washington on June 18, 2022, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., by Cardinal Wilton Gregory. “I actually don’t know where my first assignment as a priest will be at this time,” said Ryan. “We typically don’t know until immediately following the ordination. After the Mass is over, each ordinand receives a letter from the archbishop giving the assignment;until then, we have no idea. Of course, there are some practical realities and trends that give some idea. Typically newly ordained priests first serve as an associate pastor for some time—so I’ll most likely be somewhere in D.C. or the closer suburbs where parishes are larger and there are more priests typically assigned to parishes.” Ryan continued: “With all the waiting, it certainly makes everything very surreal! As with anything where you spend a lot of time preparing to do something, there’s a certain sense in which you make the commitment interiorly long before you make the commitment publicly. And in a real sense, the waiting is difficult! In a sense, it’s simply exciting to soon be living and doing what I believe I was born to do. Soon I will be able to live out what I have been preparing for through prayer and study for many years.” Just like Ryan, Alex also does not know where his first placement will be exactly. “I only know that it will be a three-month parish assignment in the Archdiocese of Washington,” said Alex. After that time, I will return to Rome to complete my license (a type of master’s degree) in theology.” “Since I am already an ordained deacon, I have already made the promises of celibacy, prayer and obedience,” said Alex. “For me, preparing to make these promises was the hard part. They have some ‘bite’ to them; living them does not come automatically. Eight months later, priestly ordination feels much lighter. I am excited to finally live out what I’ve been preparing to do for the last six years.” Alex deaconed for Mass at the tomb of St. Jean Vianney (Patron Saint of Priests) in Ars, France. Mass was celebrated with St. Jean Vianney’s chalice, which Alex is holding in the picture below.
Ryan Braam Alex Wyvill
WOW Fact! Alex chanted the words of Jesus in the Passion narrative on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City with the Holy Father.
