Putting On The New Man: Jon Olivier and Hunter LaRocca Profiles of New NDS Seminarians


By: Jason Songe, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans

Putting On The New Man is a series of the NDS Blog that will introduce the new faces you see in the seminary.

 

JON OLIVIER

My name is Jon Olivier from the Diocese of Biloxi, MS. I’m a first year Seminarian. After our blessed Mother my two favorite saints that I grew up with are Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint John Paul II. I enjoy western classics with John Wayne. True Grit is my favorite. My favorite bible verse is “The Great Commission”–Mt. 28:19-20. I want to be a priest to bring the Sacraments to my parish family and to those on the margins of society. Two of my favorite spiritual books are “The Four Witnesses” and the “Case for Jesus.” The most interesting thing to happen to me was my trip and experiences in Medjugorje. I started to feel my vocation to the priesthood through volunteering in prison ministry. My favorite hobbies are mountain biking and riding horses.

 

HUNTER LAROCCA

My name is Hunter LaRocca. I’m from the Diocese of Lake Charles, and I am in first year Pre-Theology. The saints that I admire the most would be Saint Thomas More and St. Paul. One of my most favorite movies is “A Man for All Seasons,” on the life of Saint Thomas More. The scripture passage that I often look to or reflect on is Matthew 5:48. Some of my most favorite spiritual books that I have read so far is “The Priest is Not His Own” by Venerable (soon to be Blessed) Fulton Sheen and “Introduction to the Devout Life” by Saint Francis de Sales. Nothing really too interesting or out of the ordinary has ever really happened to me yet in my life. Some of my hobbies and interests include spending time with my family and friends, drawing, taking walks, listening to classical music, and music history. I have been discerning to be a priest for about two years now. This discernment started when I was in college. My main driving force on why I think that I am called to the priesthood is to lead and teach others about Jesus Christ and His Church. To go out and make disciples of all nations, and to spread that message that everybody has a certain call to holiness and conversion, not just priest and religious.


About the Author: Jason Songe, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans


Jason is a seminarian in First Theology.


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