Clay Jaskowski, C.S.C.

Novice

About

Hometown: Roscommon, MI

Year in Formation: Novice

College: University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN), 2021

College Major: Anthropology

Graduate School: University of Notre Dame, Alliance for Catholic Teaching (ACE) Program

Graduate Degree: Master of Education, 2023

Previous Jobs: Teacher

Patron Saint: St. Jude

Favorite Movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Favorite Books: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Favorite Music: Eric Church

Hobbies: Playing soccer, reading, board games

Most Memorable Prayer/Liturgy you have Attended: Easter Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland

Place of Pilgrimage you Most Want to Visit and why: I would love to do the Camino de Santiago at some point.

Favorite Way to Pray: praying the Rosary

Favorite Devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows

What Drew you to Holy Cross: I was drawn to Holy Cross both by their mission and their community. I was attracted by an environment that felt like home, and a place where I could continue working in education.

Your Vocation Story: I started to be involved in youth group and to take my faith seriously when I was in high school, but I did not begin to seriously consider a religious vocation until my junior year of college. At that time, I was lucky enough to be immersed in a very supportive and faithful community at Notre Dame. I had great friends who would constantly challenge the way I thought and help me seek deeper understanding of my faith and my life. After graduating, I joined the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) teaching program and taught for two years in Tucson, Arizona. This time was very important to me, as I got an opportunity to work in the mission of education in a Catholic school. During my time in Tucson, through my experiences and prayer I felt more certainty that God was calling me to apply to seminary. Throughout my life I knew that God was calling me to serve in a direct way, and my discernment process was all about listening and trying to find what that specific calling was.

Favorite Verse: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

Favorite Quote: “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” – St. Pope John Paul II

How can visitors to this page pray for you? Please pray for continued faith and trust in the Lord.