Partner with us to train your next priest
By Robin Little
As a little girl growing up in my large church in Dallas, I had such fond memories of the clergy to whom I looked up as leaders in our parish. I remember my sixth-grade confirmation class like it was yesterday. I remember when I was in the eighth grade, and my grandmother and my aunt passed away on the same day, and the only person who could make sense of it all was Fr. Philputt. He graciously came to our house on a Saturday afternoon and, in the peaceful way only he could do, he helped my brothers and me understand death and process our emotions.
In May, I had the privilege of watching our 19 graduates receive degrees at St. John’s Northwestern. I cannot wait to hear about their journeys a year from now as they embark in new parishes across the United States. It’s people like them that are coming to your community, your parish, to lead and spread the good news of the Gospel, to visit your loved ones in the hospital, and to help raise your children in the Lord at Vacation Bible School.
When I think about who I now want in front of my seven-year-olds, Jack and Lucy, next week at VBS, it is priests like Fr. Philputt, whom I trust to instill the lessons of Jesus Christ and to hopefully shepherd them through those tough high school years in youth group.
You may have other memories that resonate with you in your home parish, but what draws me back to our common thread is how we form priests at Nashotah.
If you’ve read anything about seminaries over the past year, you know that many are closing their residential programs in favor of offering online options for those who are called to the priesthood. We are doing quite the opposite; we are doubling down on our unique residential formation as we aggressively fundraise and intentionally visit parishes across the U.S. to connect with aspiring ordinands.
When you visit our campus, you’ll see that we start and finish the day with prayer five days a week. This spiritual discipline isn’t easy, but it is a key part of our formation that equips students to be as prepared as possible when they leave us and join your local church. When you think about your parish priest, I hope you also think about us. I hope you will pray for us, think of students who might like to visit us, and prayerfully consider how you can help us financially. A gift to Nashotah House directly supports the formation of future priests and helps us reach our goal of having students graduate with minimal debt.
Please know that every gift amount helps us achieve our goal of forming more ministers for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue this vital mission, and may God bless you and your family this summer!
Robin Little joined the Nashotah House advancement team in 2021 and has served as Senior Director of Advancement since 2022. Under her leadership, Nashotah House saw a 33% year-over-year increase in donations to the annual fund. Formerly, Little worked as a political fundraiser in Washington, D.C., at the National Association of Broadcaster and later as director of development for the National Association of Convenience Stores. She and her 7-year-old twins, Jack and Lucy, live in Dallas, where she is an active member of her home parish, Church of the Incarnation.
