‘SACRED BEAUTY’

St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, once said: “The priesthood is the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This month, deacons across the globe will be making their final step into “the heart of Jesus” as they finalize preparations for their ordinations into the priesthood.

In the Albany Diocese, Deacon Nathaniel Resila is one of the five deacons who will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger on Saturday, June 19, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Deacon Resila, who graduated a few weeks ago from the university of Saint Mary of the Lake, a seminary in Mundelein, Ill., said that leaving the school was “bittersweet” — as many graduations often are. The thrill of joining the priesthood was strong, but so was the nostalgia from years of studying just an hour north of Chicago with close friends he’s made along the way.

“It’s definitely a bit of a relief (to be done) because it’s tense work … with final papers and exams,” Deacon Resila said, “but also knowing it’s my last semester, there’s time for socialization and making time for the guys. There’s a lot of different things to balance.”

In between his studies, Deacon Resila found the time to explore the beautiful churches that harbor the city of Chicago — something that also had a huge influence on his call to the priesthood: “(Churches’) sacred beauty is something I’ve always been drawn to,” Deacon Resila said.

Just after his finals wrapped up, Deacon Resila made a quick road trip to visit St. Joseph’s Church in Chicago, a Polish parish he had eyed to visit for some time. Polish himself, it was interesting to see the history of the church

“I loved it,” he said. “St. Joseph is right in the middle of Chicago. It’s a beautiful church built by Polish immigrants. They were dirt poor but wanted to build these beautiful churches.”

The middle child of three siblings, Deacon Resila, 29, grew up in Schenectady and attended St. Madeleine Sophie parish with his family.

“I had a beautiful upbringing,” he said. His parents were always able to anticipate the needs of himself and his siblings, he said, and they often encouraged them to follow their interests and talents — something that Deacon Resila seemed to take to heart. He donned many hats while attending Mohonasen High School, from doing theater, musicals and plays, to Boy Scouts, orchestra and swimming — he even got a scholarship to swim at Niagara University.

Faith was also a piece of his life growing up: ”I was raised in a loving, Catholic family,” he said. Deacon Resila remembers his grandmother always praying the rosary, and his family gathering together for Christmas Eve Mass. His family’s faith helped set the foundation for his own, though his call to the priesthood didn’t happen until he was a senior in high school.

“During high school, whenever some conversation would come up on morally sensitive issues — marriage, life, etc. — I always found I had a strange courage around more controversial issues,” he said. “It’s not the easiest but I found that courage and I thought, ‘What is the source of this courage?’ and it was the Holy Spirit.”

A few years later, his call was solidified during a study abroad trip to France. Sophomore year at Niagara University, Deacon Resila studied in Paris for a semester while traveling around Europe in his spare time. Being able to visit the many beautiful European churches struck the deacon with such awe.

“I was smitten by them,” he said. “It changed my life.

“Going to these beautiful churches, I thought how moved and transformed I was,” he continued. “It was the beauty of the churches that was a sign of a greater reality. And I really started to think and be inspired by the thought that maybe God’s calling me to be a priest. I started falling in love with the idea.”

Deacon Resila went to receive his master’s in theology from St. John’s University in Queens. He started working as a substitute teacher in schools across the area, until he entered seminary in  August 2016.

He noted that working as a deacon has been a huge help in his path toward the priesthood. His parish assignments have been at St. Ann’s in Fort Ann and Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall, Holy Trinity in Cohoes, Holy Trinity in Hudson, St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Schenectady and, St. Mary’s in Ballston Spa.

“This year as a deacon I can preach, and I love baptizing and getting to know people; what makes them tick and what animates them and defines them,” he said. “It’s a real privilege to know these people.”

Now, as ordination nears, Deacon Resila is looking forward to his next steps in his faith journey.

“I’m really looking forward to offering Mass as a priest,” he said. “That has nourished me. If not for the Mass, I don’t know where I’d be. It’s fruitful for the people of God; it’s almost an art how you offer the Mass.”

Added Deacon Resila: “If people could pray for me and all the men being ordained and pray for our spiritual protection … it really helps to continue to offer prayers.”