Reverend John Paul Heisler

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
The Catholic University of America
St. John the Baptist Parish

Meet Fr. Heisler.

What did you do prior to entering seminary?

I worked with my Dad, sanding and refinishing hardwood floors. I was also very blessed to attend Christendom College the year before entering seminary.

What influenced your decision to apply for seminary entrance?

Fr. Planty gave me the book "To Save a Thousand Souls," and I knew that further discernment of the vocation to the priesthood needed to be done in the seminary environment.

Why do you want to be a priest?

To save souls.

What are your favorite pastimes?

I love basketball! I like playing Frisbee a lot too, and I have an interest in economics as well.

What is your favorite quote?

“To know Jesus, Eternal Wisdom, is to know enough. To know everything, and not know Him, is to know nothing.” - St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

Who is your favorite Saint and why?

St. John Paul II. In every aspect of his life, he lived with a constant zeal for the Church. Every person who encountered him was touched in a way that they remembered for the rest of their life. His relationship with Our Lady has demonstrated to me the importance of a loving relationship with Mary.

What advice would you give to a young man thinking about the seminary?

Pray often and pray from the heart. Peace will come through prayer, so a daily prayer life is essential. Join the Men's Discernment Group. This is a zero-pressure discernment group that gives guys the opportunity to discuss their vocation with the Vocations Director at a number of retreats and other events.