Seminarian
Daniel Gormley
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s lifelong parishioner Daniel Gormley prepares for his ordination to the transitional diaconate in May, he reflects on the path that led him to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. From the strong example in the faith provided by his parents during early childhood, to the witness of his older sister who maintained an active faith life in her college years, Daniel has always been surrounded by models of intentional discipleship.
Daniel Gormley (far right) with Archbishop Dennis Schnurr (second from right) and fellow seminarians, Gabriel and Leo
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Describing himself as a St. John Before the Latin Gate parishioner “from birth,” Daniel also credits our faith community with helping him discern a call to serve the Church. “Having a healthy parish life was really important, especially when I was growing up,” he says. “The Knights of Columbus was huge and my dad was involved with them. I remember putting up and taking down chairs for their events and that was good, it was really fun. We were within 10 minutes walking distance to the church, and they have a school attached, so it was really cool to float back and forth between the two. It always felt like one organism, one team.” For three years beginning in the eighth grade, Daniel attended the Totus Tuus overnight camp in the Diocese of Wichita. There, he felt his prayer life come alive in a new way and first had an inkling that he might be called to the priesthood. Leaving home to attend Pittsburg State and the University of Kansas, Daniel was equally blessed by the quality of spiritual care on campus. With the encouragement of some dynamic and inspiring priests, he began contemplating a vocation to the priesthood in his sophomore year. By the time he became a senior, he had discerned a call and applied to seminary. Daniel completed his two years of minor seminary at Conception Seminary College in Missouri. In addition to the profound spiritual growth he experienced there, the camaraderie he found among the seminarians was a great blessing. “The fraternity among the guys there was phenomenal,” Daniel says. “We were in the middle of nowhere — there were literally windmills on the property — so when we weren’t studying, we just hung out a ton and there were talent shows and banquets and team sports. We would go out
