Introduction/Tell things about you, your family, your Catholic journey
My name is Steven James Kessler, and I was born on June 26th, 1986, at the Guttenberg hospital to Stacey Marie Kessler. Steven Christopher Kessler, my father, drove all night from Kansas to be there when I was born. A few days later I got to go home to Elkader where I was raised throughout high school. I attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader since I was baptized. I attended Central Community schools and graduated in 2004. My faith has always been a huge part of my life from an early age. My grandmother, Carla, was always taking me to Mass on Sundays and making sure I was living a strong Christian faith. My mother died when I was 20 months old and my father was a water tower painter so he was gone nine to ten months of the year. My father, however, called me weekly when on the road and spent as much time as he could when he was home. He has and still is one of my strongest role models. Not because he was perfect, but because he was imperfect. His example to me has always been to try to be the best person, and when you fail, to seek forgiveness. He truly is a big part of why I am who I am and where I am.
Where/when did your sense of call develop?
I believe the call started around the time I was a junior in high school but I strongly wanted to be a father and really wanted to have a daughter and I am still not sure why. The turning point for me happened while I was on retreat at the Shalom center at the beginning of my two years of study in Impact in 2019. I read a passage that some hearts are made for deep abiding love and others are made for more broad love. Those with deep loves are those who have marriages that last for 40, 50, 60+ years. Those with hearts for broad love may be more suited to be pastors. I have loved or cared deeply about everyone I have gotten to know and so I decided maybe I was designed to be a pastor to God’s people.
Were you invited by others to enter seminary?
I was not invited so much as I asked about how to answer the call in my heart. I first went to my pastor, John Haugen, and told him my feelings and he met with me a few times, then we got the process started. He is one of the huge reasons I am in seminary today.
What was your main motivation in pursuing your call?
I want to be a servant of God. I believe deep in my heart that this is God’s plan for me and I intend to do whatever is asked of me to fulfill God’s plan. If it turns out to not be ordination into the priesthood, then I will serve in whatever other way God provides.
Who were/are your biggest influences?
Like I said earlier, Father John has been a big influence on me since he came to St. Joseph’s. He has always been someone I can turn to if I am struggling or if I need some advice. My father has also been a huge influence. He may not realize it, but even in his mistakes he has taught me valuable lessons and will last a lifetime. He isn’t perfect but he has always shown me how to live as a righteous man. He would help anyone who needed help and always tried to bring a smile to everyone’s face. I have tried to do the same. My other influence would be Blessed Michael J. McGivney. He is the priest who founded the Knights of Columbus. His passion to help the poor and the orphaned children has always sparked a desire in my heart to do the same. I pray, one day, he is granted full sainthood.
What advice would you give other men who are discerning their call?
For those who are discerning the call to the priesthood I would say this. First understand that discerning means you are wondering about or questioning this call and that it is totally ok to be unsure if you want or are called to this vocation. Second, don’t be scared of it. You may not be completely sure this is what you are called to, but if you don’t explore it, you can never know. Third, PRAY! The power of prayer may seem abstract to some, I know it was to me, but trust that God is going to help you. Take time and sit with Him. Ask the Lord what he wants of you and quietly wait. The call is often not a loud voice commanding you what to do but a soft whisper willing you towards something great. I never literally heard “a call” but it was a feeling in my heart that brought me to seminary. Try to understand what you are feeling. Fourth, tell someone that you’re thinking that this might be what God wants for you. Talk to your family, your pastor and to your close friends. You may not get all positive replies, but others may surprise you.
Lastly, I want to address those reading this who are not discerning but know someone who may be or someone who might make a good pastor. Please share your thoughts with them. I had lots of people come up to me after it was known I was accepted to seminary that told me they always knew or thought I would become a priest. This is great to hear but would have been even better when I was younger. If you know a young man, or even a not so young man, whom you think would be a great priest, tell them! This very well could be the encouragement they need to start on the road to discernment.