Ordination
MAY 26, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
5B
Vocation to the priesthood prophesied at baptism
Deacon Nathan LaLiberte
By Pat Norby
Age: 26 Hometown: Lakeville Home parish: All Saints, Lakeville Parents’ names: Mark LaLiberte and Cathy LaLiberte Education: B.A. in philosophy and Catholic studies, University of St. Thomas Former job: Target, Dunn Brothers, Comfort Inn Suites, Minneapolis Gun Club and Fraser Teaching parish: Maternity of Mary, St. Paul Pastoral internship experiences: Divine Mercy, Faribault Hobbies: Running, reading, cooking Favorite book: “Summa Theologica” by St. Thomas Aquinas, and Proverbs Favorite movie: “Monsieur Vincent” Favorite Scripture quote: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” — John 10:10b Volunteer work: Sharing and Caring Hands, St. Vincent de Paul Society Person you most admire: Blessed Charles de Foucauld Thanksgiving Masses: 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29, All Saints; 10 a.m. Sunday, June 12, Divine Mercy; Maternity of Mary to be announced
The Catholic Spirit
Deacon Nathan LaLiberte said that his grandmother saw his vocation long before he could speak. “I was baptized on the Easter Vigil and my grandma leaned over to my mom and said ‘that means he has to be a priest,’ which was never mentioned to me until I entered seminary,” Deacon LaLiberte said. “She would take me to church,” he said. But, he added, he would misbehave so badly that he had to be taken out of the church. “I think it was all the older ladies in the church that prayed for me to behave that led to my conversion.” Although he was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith, Deacon LaLiberte said he had a nominal Catholic upbringing. “I didn’t start thinking about the priesthood until my senior year of high school,” he said. “I started questioning who I was, what I was, what is truth. . . . I began to go through a conversion of just appreciating what Catholicism was,” said the deacon, now 26. “My generation grew up with the Internet, so if you have questions you
Congratulations
Congratulations
Fr. James Lannan
To our parishioner
Fr. Jim Lannan
On your Ordination
to the Priesthood! May your priestly service be pleasing to God and bring lasting good to Christ’s church.
Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
Deacon Nathan LaLiberte, right, helps Bill and Judy Lewis of Divine Mercy in Faribault stock food shelves at the St. Vincent de Paul Center for Charitable Services in Faribault. Bill is the president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Divine Mercy Conference.
Google them. I Googled a lot of things about the church,” he said. Although he found some things that were false, he also found information that was inspiring, along with being guided by God to a friend who was devout in his Catholic
faith.
Only one option “I decided my senior year that I wanted to go to a Catholic university because PLEASE TURN TO DEACON ON PAGE 8B
Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House Phone 651-777-1311 8243 Demontreville Trail N., Lake Elmo, MN 55042
On your ordination
to the priesthood. We’re very proud of you!
Church of St. Stephen, Anoka
May God continue to bless your ministry
Your Summer Deacon Parish
TheCatholicSpirit.com
— The Faculty, Staff and parish of Our Lady of Grace in Edina MN
Maternity of Mary Church
Congratulations and Blessings
JONATHAN KELLY From the parishioners at
Saint Michael Catholic Church 11300 Frankfort Pkwy. NE, St. Michael, MN www.stmcatholicchurch.org
Father Nate LaLiberte Congratulations on Your Ordination