Our youngest priest in the Archdioceses.

Fr. Dan Mauro, who was ordained in May 2025, shared with the Serra Club at the January Luncheon Meeting his vocation story.  Fr. Dan talked about the people that influenced him to consider the priesthood.  He never imagined he had a vocation to become a priest until the Spring Semester at St. James Academy.

He when to Holy Spirit grade school where he was influenced by Fr. Story.  As a server he was allowed wear cassock and surplice that as a child he thought only a priest could wear. He thinks Adoration impacted his faith journey. 

He then attended St. James Academy for high school and was influenced by our Vocation Directors - Fr. Scott Wallisch and Fr. Dan Morris.  The number of students going to Daily Mass and the depth of theology taught by the teachers impressed him.

His older sister entered the religious life when Dan was 14 years old.  Therefore, Dan did not feel any pressure to be a priest – his family was covered.  He thought he should not enter the seminary – at least the students in his circle did not think he should.

There were two events that made him think about a religious vocation.

First, at St. James, Dr. Shane Rapp – influenced him – by greeting him; “are you praying with Scripture each day?”   He asked us – “Is that anyway to greet a student?  During Senior Year he spent hours in St. James’ Chapel praying with the scripture.  By the time he graduated he felt he had a religious vocation, but he did not apply for the seminary.  He went to Benedictine for one year.

The second impact moment was at the SEEK Conference when Fr. Mike Schmitz said 90% of the youth in Dan’s generation are losing their faith. – he just needed to do something about this loss of souls.  He called Fr. Scott and entered Kenrich-Glennon in 2017.

Other points he made about his journey.

• You need to say “yes” to God every day.
• During his first year in the seminary, he thought – “God must not be calling me – this is too hard”.
• The World seeks comfort but Jesus invites us to share His Cross.
• He challenged the Serrans to embrace the Cross.
• Read St. John of the Cross.
• Dan loves being a priest.
• He is surprised at the number of confessions requested at St. James.