“Invite me to an event happening in 2050.”
Years ago, Dolores Sonoga asked her sixth graders at St. Matthias School to put their pens to paper and dream. A young John Rovnak rose to the occasion—he already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up—so he got to work, fleshing out the details of the celebration for his 25th anniversary to the priesthood.
Fast forward to Saturday, June 17, 2023, and Sonoga found herself seated among Father Rovnak’s family and friends as he was ordained to the priesthood. God willing, she can celebrate his 25th anniversary to the priesthood with him as well, in the year 2048.
There is a lot going on in this issue of The Catholic Echo. Staff writer Collin Vogt tells the story above in a feature on page 14, which also has an online component involving profiles on our three newly ordained priests. On page 20, Marly Reichert tells us about the diocesan Office of Patrimony, which re-houses artifacts from church buildings that have closed. We have two lovely reflections from priests—one from Father Kopp on how to support seminarians who have been assigned to your parish (page 27) and one from Father McKarns on the Transfiguration (page 28). To mark our first ever Back-to-School Guide, we’ve brought back the Exponent’s popular “With YOUth in Mind” series (page 32), where Nancilynn Gatta interviews students about something they’re working on or on how they feel about specific topics.
But it is Sonoga’s story above which, for me, really ties it all together. We’ve given you a lot to think about this month. Yet, as students return to schools, I ask that you take a moment to think about your own teachers, mentors and advisors—those who helped form you into who you are and encouraged you to dream about what you could be—and be grateful.
Until next month,
Katie Wagner
