PROFILE: FR. DAVID DOSECK

Father David Doseck Eaton Priest’s Vocation Formed & Forged by Childhood Examples

BY MARK DANIS

Father David Doseck remembers knowing as a child that Jesus Christ was a real person. He also knew Jesus loved him. Today, encountering love is the heart of this busy priest’s lifelong vocation. more experienced pastor would already Father Doseck also credits his own family’s influence. As the pursuing the same desires and ambitions as many young men. He wanted to be a good athlete, find a high-paying career and, according to him, be famous. But two memorable events helped redirect the focus of his future plans.

Father Doseck is the Pastor of St. Mary Church in Camden, As a high school sophomore, he went on retreat. After St. John Church in New Paris and Visitation of the Blessed receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he describes a Virgin Mary Church in Eaton. When profound experience of, “resting in and asked about the greatest challenge desiring to do the Father’s will.” It was he faces, he describes maintaining in that moment he first considered the the delicate balance of uniting three possibility of becoming a priest. Later, communities while retaining the he completed undergraduate studies distinct and beautiful history of each in philosophy at the Pontifical College individual parish. He also humbly Josephinum in Columbus, OH, and acknowledges his own steep learning Theological studies at Mount St. Mary’s curve as a relatively new pastor. Seminary & School of Theology in “I am still learning the things that a incident occurred. Cincinnati. This was where the second know,” said Father Doseck. On the day of his ordination in 2017, his older brother, Josh, approached Through it all, he is guided by a clear him and said, “David I have seen you vision of his priestly calling. This vision happy at other times, but today you was formed and forged by the examples seem truly joyful.” Father Doseck and experiences of his own childhood. recalled his exact response, “That is “I remember good and holy priests I remember good and because I am what God is calling me to be: a priest forever!” growing up. Mom and Dad would invite holy priests growing them to our house for dinner and other family gatherings.” up. Mom and Dad Today, Father Doseck’s greatest joy is in helping people experience and would invite them to be part of the Church’s mission of When asked how these men helped shape our house for dinner. proclaiming the the Good News his priesthood, he offers this description that we are each loved eternally. He of the priests he encountered as a boy, describes his approach this way: “To “The priest was seen as a man of prayer, be with the people in my parishes – but also a man of common sense, a man willing to be at family gatherings, on a fishing boat, in the farm fields or with people in all different walks of life.” Father Doseck’s barn stalls, at the sports arenas or ball diamonds, gathered perspective closely resembles that of Pope Francis, who asks together at the Altar of Sacrifice, visiting the sick and elderly, his priests to, “be shepherds with the smell of sheep.” or comforting a grieving family. To sum it up, it is my joy to be united to Christ in His love for His people.” fourth of five children, he recalls his parents gathering him Father Doseck explained that the joy he experiences in being and his two brothers and two sisters every evening to pray. with the people of his parishes stems from his earliest desire for the priesthood, “To love others as Christ would want to His years as a student at Botkins High School were spent love them.”