Answering the Call

The question is often wrongly worded: Why did you decide to pursue a religious vocation? This question assumes decisions and actions solely of a human nature—and misses the divine prompting. God chooses, God calls and people who are attuned to his voice hear the message. Their choice is how to respond.

“If you don’t let the allures of the world get in the way of trying to become holy, you can ask this very scary question: God, what do you want me to do?” Rev. Jay Horning said. “You put that in his hands, and it can be scary. If you really mean it, you could become Catholic and end up becoming a priest.”

Fr. Horning (BS ’10) references his own faith journey. When he enrolled at the University of Saint Francis, he wasn’t a regular churchgoer, let alone a Catholic. But along the way he converted to Catholicism, earned a degree in psychology and answered the call to the priesthood and his life’s vocation. He is a parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church and co-chaplain at Bishop Dwenger High School.

“Something that’s cool about the mystery of God is the way he works gently with us sometimes, and sometimes pushes us hard,” Fr. Horning said. “It’s interesting to see how he uses things we can be drawn to or motivated by to get us to a certain place and how it all changes our lives.”

“It was hard because I thought I had it all figured out. I’d graduate, get married, have kids, work as a nurse—all these things. He created my heart to love.”

Sister M. Emmanuel Kurtzweg Class of 2019

“If you don’t let the allures of the world get in the way of trying to become holy, you can ask this very scary question: God, what do you want me to do?”

Fr. Jay Horning Class of 2010

“You have to be in a real relationship with a real God and 15 minutes a day is the minimum. I can’t imagine giving your life to somebody you never talk to.”

Brian Isenbarger Class of 2012

Fr. Horning came to USF for its nursing program before switching to psychology with plans of becoming a counselor. A cross country runner as a freshman, Fr. Horning moved away from athletic competition to work with campus ministry and student government. He served as president of the USF student government for two years.

Fr. Horning became drawn to the Catholic Church in large part because of the sacraments and ways to connect with Jesus Christ. He felt called to become Catholic, and then to become a priest. He relishes several roles now, including being the chaplain of the St. Vincent de Paul Church grade school program and youth ministry program.

“I love working with youth and love that it’s primarily my responsibility,” Fr. Horning said. “It’s very life-giving to provide that ministry. I enjoy journeying with young people as they come into the faith and make it their own. Being at Saint Francis, friends introduced me to the Church and brought me to Jesus. The fact I can do that for others is my ultimate passion. I love helping others encounter Christ.”

Believers can serve God in many ways without pursuing full-time religious vocation, but some are called—like Fr. Horning—to make that lifetime commitment. The process requires an adjustment of priorities and a dedication to many additional years of study beyond college.

Eliese Kurtzweg earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree from USF, graduating in December 2019. While serving as a resident assistant and peer minister during her junior year, she began to spend more time daily with God, often in the St. Francis Chapel. Her post-graduation plans became something different as she moved closer to God’s plans.

“Through the stillness and a small voice, I actually came into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ,” Kurtzweg said. “It was hard because I thought I had it all figured out. I’d graduate, get married, have kids, work as a nurse—all these things. But the Lord wanted me to surrender my idea of what would make me happy and ask him what would make me happiest and pursue how he created my heart to love. Through that, I encountered his love in such a real way that it shook my world.”

Kurtzweg is in the second year of an eight-year discernment period, living at the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration Motherhouse in Mishawaka, Indiana, as she moves forward in becoming a full Sister. She received her habit, veil and new name in August. She is now known as Sister M. Emmanuel Kurtzweg.

“While I was at Saint Francis, I saw all these Sisters, and they were so joyful,” Kurtzweg said. “I worked closely with a young sister, Sister Ignatia, for peer ministry and I would think, ‘Why is she so happy? I don’t get it.’ Then I realized it’s Jesus. She’s in love with him.” Kurtzweg found herself drawn onto the same path. “I really have experienced a profound peace and an even deeper love,” she said.

The second of seven children and the oldest daughter of Eric and Missy Kurtzweg, Eliese said her parents are very supportive of her calling.

“My mom’s initial reaction was surprise, but afterward she told me, ‘I knew you loved God so much and you would do something for him,’ ” Kurtzweg said. “My dad, who is a convert to Catholicism, not knowing any Sisters, was more hesitant. But then he said, ‘I love you and I know you know this is right for you,’ and he’s falling more in love with what this is, especially after being with the Sisters.”

Brian Isenbarger (BA ’12) earned a degree in Theology from USF and is in the fourth of six years in seminary now. Taking part in the pilgrimage to Assisi as a USF senior impacted him in a profound way and brought him closer to God. He was five months away from being married when he could no longer ignore God’s call.

“I couldn’t deny it,” he said. “I’d wake up in the middle of the night thinking God wants me to become a priest.”

Isenbarger says it takes a lot of saying “no” to other things to follow the call to full-time religious vocation, but it is worth every one of those moments.

“I am more than joyful,” he said. “I can’t imagine being any happier.”

Isenbarger played baseball for USF for two years before getting more involved in campus ministry and switching from his initial plans to become a physical education teacher and baseball coach. After working as a full-time youth minister in Carmel, Indiana, he answered the call to pursue the priesthood.

“Practically speaking, the hardest challenge is that it’s a long haul,” he said. “You have six years of school on top of your undergraduate. I finished a master’s degree in between there, so that’s 12 years of school after high school. You have to be all in.”

Isenbarger’s advice to anyone wondering whether they are called to full-time ministry is to strengthen their relationship with God in order to hear his voice.

“The first thing is to pray every day,” Isenbarger said. “You have to be in a real relationship with a real God and 15 minutes a day is the minimum. I can’t imagine giving your life to somebody you never talk to. This is the same thing. The second thing is to fall in love with Jesus. It changes everything.

“For younger folks, surround yourself with other good people striving for the same things. Talk to priests and Sisters. They’ve lived it and are living it.”