Gerard Remmes

Parish: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Galesburg

Birthdate: April 3

Seminary: Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary: Entered 2024, Class of 2031

Why did you become a seminarian?
Over time I have experienced the Lord drawing me closer to himself and a felt a quiet prompting to discern the vocation of the priesthood. In middle school and high school I attended Emmaus Days retreats that helped me grow in my faith and put me in contact with many awesome seminarians and priests that showed me the joy and  adventure of the priestly life. Despite this, internally, I still had a lot of anxiety with the idea of the being a priest. While in college, I continued to grow in my faith and my trust in our Lord grew through daily prayer and reception of the sacraments. As my relationship with Jesus grew, so did my desire to serve him, and I came to trust that whatever the Lord asks of my life will actually make me most fulfilled and happy. I initially thought that would be by serving him as a music director at a church or a music teacher, but slowly, I came to realize that the Lord desires for me to serve him now as a seminarian. Above all, I desire to love our Lord in whatever way he asks, and right now that means discerning a call to the vocation of the priesthood. 

What did you do before seminary?
I graduated from Benedictine College in the Spring of 2024 with a degree in Liturgical Music and an emphasis on voice and organ. 

An interesting fact about you:
I can play 5 instruments: piano, voice, organ, guitar, and ukulele. Despite my deep love for classical and liturgical music, I also love a lot of contemporary pop artists like John Mayer, Vampire Weekend, and Twenty One Pilots.