Deacon Nathan Budde knew from a young age God called him to the priesthood. As he grew up, he explored what that call meant, praying with his family and attending Catholic school. However, as high school started, the willingness to be open to the call faded. Other plans and ideas for what he wanted his life to be filled his mind.
“At that time, for me, I was really wrestling with this call to the priesthood because there were various reasons I wanted to say, ‘no,’ push it away. But at the same time, doing that in a way was pushing God away,” shared Deacon Budde, a seminarian serving at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Newton.
In the fall of his senior year of high school at Notre Dame Academy, Deacon Budde’s youth minister at St. Mary Parish in Ledgeview invited him to a leadership retreat at Camp Tekakwitha. After being on the fence about the event, Deacon Budde decided to attend, so a friend of his could feel comfortable attending the retreat.
Deacon Budde felt he would not get anything from the experience. Little did he know his life would be changed.
On the second night of the retreat, Father Daniel Schuster, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Green Bay at the time, placed the Eucharist in the monstrance and began to preach to the retreat attendees.
Deacon Nathan could not recall what Father Schuster shared, but he clearly remembered what God said in his heart during Adoration that night.
“I do remember looking at the host—at Jesus—and suddenly, things became very clear. And I knew He was present there, and I knew He loved me. But just in my heart, very clearly, He spoke and told me that He loved me and was calling me to be His priest,” explained Deacon Budde.
After initially pushing back on the call, Jesus kept whispering, “My priest, My priest” in Deacon Budde’s heart during Adoration. That moment helped him to say “yes” to discerning God’s call for him, whatever it may be. Now, Deacon Budde will be saying “yes” to the priesthood when he is ordained in 2026.
Because of your gifts to the Raising Vocations Collection, you are helping young women discern religious life and are helping men like Deacon Budde say “yes” to the priesthood.
“When [Deacon] Nathan met with me during the Youth Ministry retreat at Camp Tekakwitha, I could see on his face that he experienced a real encounter with Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration. I am glad to know that the Raising Vocations Collection helps to support opportunities for prayer and discernment at places like Camp Tekakwitha,” shared Father Schuster.
When asked about the impact of experiences at Camp Tekakwitha and Steubenville, Deacon Nathan expressed the importance moments like those have a young person’s vocation.
“I think these things like Steubenville and Camp Tekakwitha, we just don’t know how they’re going to affect our kids, what sorts of experiences they are going to have. I didn’t think I really wanted to go to these things. I didn’t think it was for me. I was too cool…all these sorts of things. But then the Lord was still able to break through, so He works in mysterious ways. We don’t always know how—if—they’re really getting anything out of it or not, but the truth is they are,” said Deacon Budde.
Thank you for your generosity to the Raising Vocations and for helping people like Deacon Budde say “yes” to the priesthood. Help more young men and women, and make your gift today!