Ethan Menning

St. John Vianney Seminary

What a blessing and joy it is to be a seminarian representing the Archdiocese of Omaha! I am so incredibly excited to see where the Lord takes me and how many amazing people I will encounter. I have always been a Nebraska "cradle Catholic" boy, having a home in Gretna. I love to run, play spikeball, and watch and play baseball and football (Go Big Red!). In the first grade, my family became parishioners at St. Patrick in Elkhorn. There, I would encounter the Lord in radical ways. I went to school there through eighth grade and was confirmed to the Church in 2018 by Archbishop Lucas. Throughout my high school years, I attended Steubenville Conferences, You are Loved retreats, Cloisters on the Platte, Virtus et Veritas, a discernment group called SALT, and weekly fellowship with the St. Patrick Youth Group. Without St. Pat’s, my home, I would not be where I am now.

After graduating from St. Patrick, I went to Gretna High School. My heart was torn open, realizing how many people never experience the Heart of the Father and His comfort, mainly because people do not tell them! The Lord gave me many wonderful opportunities for evangelization and to encounter different beliefs.

After my first semester of freshman year, I promised myself I needed to bring the Gospel to the people around me dynamically and enthusiastically. However, I had no idea what that meant at the time. I would have the blessing to meet and reengage many faithful friends who wanted to draw nearer to the Father and talk about our beautiful encounters with the world. I would be inspired by my family, friends, youth ministers, and my priestly formators and directors. Through the example of on-fire priests and parishioners, I realized that the Lord was calling me to the seminary to pursue the priestly call and serve the Lord as a beacon of truth and hope.

After I graduated from Gretna High in 2022, I was accepted into St. John Vianney Seminary on the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. I majored in philosophy and Catholic studies. I am continually surprised at how carefully, specifically, and peacefully the Lord forms my heart here and prepares me to serve you all! The other seminarians here are such authentic and caring friends. The most insightful formators care deeply about the heart of the individual man.

Any discerning man ought always to cling to our Blessed Momma Mary. The Lord desires peace, comfort, restoration, and big things from you! The Lord does not call the perfect but desires to make you the best version of yourself. Listen to Jesus and Momma Mary and admire the holy examples in your life. Know that all of the Archdiocese of Omaha (or “The Big O,” as we say at SJV!) is in my prayers. I cannot express how much your support means to me. Peace of Christ!