Encounter

ENCOUNTER • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 14 Fr. Nathaniel Glenn Catechesis of Good Shepherd lays foundation for priestly vocation F r. Nathaniel Glenn grew up in Ahwatukee, one of three brothers, and attended public school for his first eight years of education. “By the time high school was rolling around, I knew I wanted to discern priesthood more se- riously so I wanted to go to a Catholic high school to have more of a Catholic environment,” he said. His two brothers, one older and one younger, attended De- sert Vista High instead. Andrew, the first born, is quick to say Nathaniel’s priestly vocation cropped up early in life. “We’ve kind of always known growing up with him,” Andrew said. “It’s been the thing that he’s always talked about.” In first grade, when the class had a future career day, Fr. Glenn was asked what he would be when he grew up. “He went and said, ‘I’m going to be a priest,’” Andrew recalled. “Even at 6 or 7, he was set, that was going to be the thing he wanted to do. It was just kind of a normal thing when we were growing up.” “My brothers and I are cradle Catholics and we were all raised Catholic very intentionally,” Fr. Glenn said. The Glenn brothers began their religious education early; Nathaniel was only 2 years old when he joined the atrium at Cat- echesis of the Good Shepherd, a hands-on, deeply spiritual forma- tion program for young children. The program was held at St. Benedict Parish where Fr. Glenn’s mother was a catechist. The three brothers were active at the parish, altar-serving and participating in Vacation Bible School, eventually helping to put on the camp themselves. Fr. Glenn said he began altar-serving in fifth grade and was trained by then-college student Fr. Kurt Per- era. “I’ve been altar serving ever since fifth grade.” At St. Mary’s High School, Fr. Glenn came under the influence of two priests who helped guide him in his vocation: Fr. Paul Sulli- van and Fr. Robert Bolding. “When I was discerning my senior year and preparing to enter seminary, I would meet with Fr. Bolding a lot before school,” Fr. Glenn said. “He taught me how to pray the bre- viary so I would pray Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. We would sit and talk about discern- ment and just various stuff. He was a huge help in my high school years.” Happily, two of his other St. Mary’s High School classmates felt a similar call to the priest- hood. Fr. Estevan Wetzel was or- dained at the same Mass of ordination as Fr. Glenn; Jesus Martinez, who wasn’t discerning during high school, entered three years later and is still in forma- tion. Fr. Glenn entered the Pontifi- cal College Josephinum after graduating from St. Mary’s High School, then studied three years at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor’s degree and li- cense in philosophy. After that, it was off to Rome for four years of theology. He and his classmate Fr. Ga- briel Terrill were in the midst of studies in the Eternal City when they were called home to the Phoenix Diocese in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two were set to complete classes and exams online June 1, a mere five days before their ordination. So how did he know he was called to be a priest? “The biggest sign for me was a sense of fulfillment when I was active at my church,” Fr. Glenn said. From altar-serving to being a lector and active in the youth group or helping out at St. Mary’s, he discovered something: He loved being at church. The family’s home parish is Corpus Christi. “I just found a great amount of fulfillment there and a desire to continue on in that,” Fr. Glenn said. He said it occurred to him that “preaching homilies would be pretty cool. Or, it would be really neat to help people and to forgive people in the sacrament of confession.” He said he’s inspired by “people of deep goodness” who are living out their Catholic faith. “I know within myself how hard it is to be good and I know how hard it is to be faithful and to love God and to love the people that God has placed around me. “I’m often very moved when I meet just really good and faithful Catholics who put me to shame, who really challenge me,” Fr. Glenn said. “The life of holiness and a life of goodness is really possible—and it’s really possible because I see people around me doing it.” He said being in Rome pro- vided a sense of rootedness that isn’t necessarily apparent in Phoenix. “In Rome you can walk down the street and enter a church that has the relics of a martyr who might have been killed by Diocle- tian in the 300s. Or you can go and visit the tomb of St. Cathe- rine of Sienna,” Fr. Glenn said. “There is such a sense of being rooted in our Catholic tradition that is really grounded as you’re preparing for priesthood. So that was really big for me, experienc- ing that and being able to really put our experience of the Church in context.” As a new priest, he said he’s especially looking forward to of- fering the sacraments and preaching. “I love preaching be- cause it’s like thinking our faith out loud. It’s everything that you’ve been praying about, every- thing that you’ve learned from family and friends and the world around you and then meditating on the Scriptures,” Fr. Glenn said. To those who wonder if God is calling them to the priesthood and are unsure how to proceed, Fr. Glenn offered words of en- couragement. “I would say time spent in seminary is never time wasted,” Fr. Glenn said. “If you feel the call and you’re kind of on the fence, just try it out. You’re going to leave the seminary a better man than you entered no matter if you’re leav- ing as a priest or not. “Their focus in seminary is forming you as a man for others, forming you as a man of faith, train you how to sacrifice and truly love others.” In the days leading up to his ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Glenn’s older brother Andrew, himself a father of two young children, said the family was looking forward to the big mo- ment. “We’ve been joking about it for a long time,” Andrew said. “Are you going to be Fr. Uncle Na- thaniel or Uncle Fr. Nathaniel? Our family is super-excited.” Getting to Know Fr. Nathaniel Glenn Age when he first felt called to the priesthood: From my youngest memories. Intentionally since 11. Sports: Not really. I love to jog. Professional sports team faves: ASU football, Man- chester City, any Phoenix teams Hobbies: Reading litera- ture, roasting coffee, Mario Kart, travel Siblings: Two brothers, I’m the middle Favorite subject in semi- nary: Philosophy, especially Ethics Saint who inspires him the most: St. John Henry Newman Scripture verse he lives by: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1 Languages spoken: Spanish, Italian, Latin Instruments played: Piano, clarinet, voice Favorite flavor ice cream: Butterfinger Blast Fr. Nathaniel Glenn takes part in the Eucharistic Prayer during the Ordination Mass.