Help Luke Pay for His ICKSP Candidacy in Germany

+JMJ+

(Me)

Blessings! My name is Luke Mayer, and I am entering my first-year candidacy with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. I'm from Carencro, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. My home parish was St. Peter in Carencro, but after many years, I discovered the Latin Mass at St. Joseph's in Plaisance. Since then, my discernment process has fallen into the holy grasp of the ancient form of the Mass.

As with many seminarians, the discernment process began in high school, specifically ninth grade for me. Although I had ideas about priesthood in middle school, the picture was never fully painted. I knew what a priest did (frankly, only very little did I know) and that he wasn't given a hefty salary, but I didn't bother too much with it. Once ninth grade came, I knew I had to discern properly because, within three years, I would have to be preparing for the real world.

The priesthood came back, but this time more firmly. I had witnessed my brother discern it, so now it was my time. After participating in my diocese's "Quo Vadis" retreats and "Come and See" at St. Benedict Seminary in Covington, I knew God was calling me to a deeper life in religion. Was it secular priesthood or religious priesthood? I loved the concept and lifestyle of monastics, but...I talked too much. Although that was not why I discerned secular priesthood over a monastic one, I believed God wanted to use me more "in the world." So, since my freshman year of high school, I have grown to believe that God has been calling me to the priesthood.

How I fell into the Institute was simple. Before entering candidacy, I researched different Latin Mass priesthood fraternities and discovered the Institute of Christ the King. I decided to obtain spiritual direction from St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur, and that was how I became part of the Institute.

For my second-year candidacy, the costs will amount to € 300(~$327.40)/month from September to July, including both months. This comes to around € 3,300(~$3,601.42) in total. If there are leftover donations, I will donate these to the Institute's Seminarian Fund. I ask that you please give any amount, even if it is your prayers. Prayers are needed primarily! May God bless you.