Meet New Seminarian Mike Gentry
Mike is a member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish
Mike Gentry, age 47, is a Columbus St. Catharine parishioner who entered seminary in August, 2009 at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.
Mike was born near Pensacola, Florida and grew up in Houston, Texas. His job transferred him to Columbus, Ohio in 1989.
Finding the Catholic Church
He was raised in an evangelical church until he was 14 and then he was away from the Church until age 36. “My life was falling apart because I was neglecting Jesus Christ,” said Mike.
He went “church shopping” when he arrived in Columbus. After frequenting a few churches, a friend invited him to Mass at Seton Parish in December, 1999. “I will never forget that moment. I had been trying to sustain myself with my own ideas about Jesus. I encountered Him for the first time.”
In 2001, Mike walked into St. Catherine Church at the Easter Vigil preparing to enter the Church and he said, “Tell me everything about being a Catholic.”
In 2001, he went on a retreat and decided to get more involved. Since then, he has been active in five areas of the parish: Renewal of Catholicism, teaching religious education and adult faith formation, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and a Liturgical Coordinator, and taking classes through the Franciscan distance learning program.
Even though he loved his work in the Church, in 2007, Mike realized that his current life “was not sustainable. I knew I had the shoes on the wrong feet. I prayed and there was a turning point while I was listening to a homily, “Ask God to give you the work and the relationships that He will bless.” This has become Mike’s motto.
A Call to Diocesan Priesthood
He went on a retreat with some monks in Kentucky. There he felt, “what Adam must have felt before the fall from grace … unmitigated love of God.” On the second day of the retreat God spoke to his heart, “The real love of your life is in the parish.”
He returned to Columbus and three days later he was sitting in the Vocations Director, Fr. Jeff Coning’s office.
In December, 2008, he had a new job and again asked God to give him the work and relationships that He would bless. A couple weeks later, in January, 2009, Mike was admitted to seminary with a start date of August, 2009.
An Active Parish Volunteer
In the meantime, Mike assisted Fr. Lumpe at St. Catherine parish. He worked with Parish Council to help parents form small faith groups. He helped start a men’s ministry and he assisted at funerals.
Life in Seminary
Now that Mike is at seminary, he misses St. Catherine parish life considerably. “Seminary is a good fit for me. I knew before I got here that there would not be one aspect of my life that wouldn’t get better. I am growing as a person, studying, and praying better,” said Mike. “I love being here with the guys, but I have not forgotten that parish life is the heart of the diocesan priesthood and I can’t wait to get back.”
Walden Pond
Mike’s room is about “45 seconds from the chapel.” He enjoys praying in community and he is trying to develop the habits that will lead to a joyful and fruitful priesthood.
To relax, Mike hikes and enjoys 
photography. He is enjoying seeing the sights in the Boston area (Walden Pond in photo.)
Reflecting on the Generosity of God
“I am absolutely awestruck by the generosity of God that He would bless me as He has. I still ask God to give me the work and relationships that He will bless. God has great things in store for me, all parishioners, and for Central Ohio.”
