Rev. Mr. Kevin Kimtis
St. Paul, Princeton
What seminary do you attend?
Immaculate Conception Seminary
An interesting thing about my life is:
I lived in Paris, France for 3 years. I am the past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council #9542.
Prior to the seminary I:
Attended Parochial, Public, and Private grammar school, Catholic High School (Notre Dame), and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC – (I graduated with a Ph.B.)
When I want to relax or have some fun I would:
Hear a concert, go into the city with some friends, or read a book.
The first time I thought about a priestly vocation was:
4th grade. I began serving at the altar in a small Passionist parish in Paris (say that three times fast…). This began to spark my interest in the priesthood.
How do you pray? What is your prayer life like?
In addition to the Liturgy of the Hours, I try to read from scripture as well and the lives of the saints every day. I derive great inspiration and strength from the lives of those whom the Church sets before us as examples. Additionally, the more I come to know and love the Lord, the more I feel drawn into Eucharistic Adoration. This was something I once failed to really understand and I even found it to be rather boring. But, now it is a real source of strength and refreshment for me.
What excites me about being a priest is:
I look forward, with great excitement, to being able to offer the sacrifice of the Mass and to be able to forgive sins in the name of Christ through the beautiful sacrament of Confession. As much as I look forward to this, I am also greatly humbled at the prospect of being a priest of God; I am increasingly aware of my own need for the superabundant mercy of God.
What do you enjoy about seminary life?
The ability to share my time, opinions, and life with men who are invested in the same ideals as myself. I relish the ability to connect with men who come from radically diverse backgrounds, yet who are seeking the same thing – to serve God and His Church through the holy priesthood.
If someone is considering a vocation to the priesthood I would tell them:
That's Wonderful! Every Catholic man should, at some point, consider the priesthood as an option for his life. We have lost the sense that any man might be called by God to become a priest. There is room in the priesthood of Christ for all sorts of men. Even if a man does not end up becoming a priest after considering it, at least he will be able to say that he took the time to reflect on the will of God in his life. It is only in becoming attuned to the will of God in our lives that we can be truly happy.
A couple books on my shelf, CD's I own or songs I have downloaded are:
Called to Communion by Joseph Ratzinger
The Stripping of the Altars by Eamon Duffy
The Poems of Wilfred Owen
Brideshead Revisited and Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh
Mozart's Coronation Mass
"Organ Symphony" No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 by Camille Saint-Saëns
"The Beatles 1" album
