Meet Fr. Victor

Date of profession (simple vows): August 15, 2005
Ordination Date: May 16, 2013
Place of Birth: Kinsley, KS
High School: Kinsley HS, Arkansas City HS (Arkansas City, KS)
College & Degree: Conception Seminary College – liberal arts
Post-graduate work/Theology: Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) – M.A. Biblical Studies; St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology – M.Div.
Current monastic assignments: Seminary Instructor, Socius (works with the young monks)
Hobbies/interests: Watching and playing sports, reading (especially SciFi and Fantasy!) TV, listening to music
Three adjectives that describe you: Antagonistic, Smart, Musical
Hidden Talent: Swing Dancing
Favorite book: The Brothers Karamazov – Fyodor Dostoyevski
Place you would like to travel/vacation: A Castle in Germany
Name of a famous person (living) you would like to meet: Pope Francis or John Williams (Star Wars soundtrack)
Favorite food: Barbeque
Favorite movie: Star Wars (the original trilogy), Braveheart, Inception
Favorite sport to watch or play: Basketball
Name some websites you visit daily: Espn.com, Facebook
Reason for choosing your monastic name: I was born on Good Friday, and our Victory only comes through joining in with Christ’s Victory, which he won by accepting his cross.
Best memory when you were younger: A family reunion/canoe trip in Nebraska
Favorite quote from Scripture: “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55)

What is the best way to go about discerning one’s vocation?
Entrust your thoughts and desires to a mentor.  That is, entrust your life to God in prayer and be open to what he tells you, but also talk to a person you can trust.  Prayer is essential, but we can easily fool ourselves when we don’t ask others for feedback.

What is the greatest blessing in monastic life?
Having a community to support you and share their lives with you as you share your life with them.

When did you know you wanted to become a monk?
When I returned for my second year of school here, it quickly became clear that this could become home.  I had been without my “home base” since I started college because my parents moved to a new town and my best friends didn’t go back much either.  When I realized I had found my home, I was very excited to stay.

What role do monks’ play in the Church and the world?
We offer a stable life that other people can lean on and escape the craziness and noise of the world.  Our life is meant to serve as an example/reminder of the world that is to come and that we don’t have to be slaves to the things of this world.  By letting go of all the “stuff” we can find deeper meaning and help others look for that meaning, as well.

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