Help Ian Become a Dominican!
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Hello Family, Friends and Future Friends!
I hopefully know most of you but if not, my name is Ian Parelius and it is a pleasure to encounter you in this GoFundMe page! As you can see from the title of this fund, I have been ACCEPTED to join the Dominicans and in order to move forward, I must first try to pay down as much of my student loans as possible. Please consider giving to this cause and allowing me to be more freely drawn to the Order of Preachers. If you have any questions or anything you want to talk about, do not hesitate to message me via facebook and I’ll happily chat with you.
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Now that you know the purpose of this fund, I want to take this opportunity to let you know more about me, who I am, and how I ended up applying to join the Dominicans!
Who I am
My name is Ian Parelius and I was born in Maryland, but raised in Northern California. I grew up in a loving and nurturing home with my mother, father and five younger siblings. Most importantly, Christ has always been at the center of my family. Growing up, the close relationship I had with God was largely mediated by my parents and their high regard for Scripture and daily prayer.
I have only been Catholic since January 23, 2013. I grew up as a non-denominational Christian, attending Calvary Chapel Petaluma. Unfortunately, as high school ended and college began, I walked away from the faith fairly quickly. Nevertheless, I found myself interested in philosophy and the pursuit of truth. I attended Saint Mary’s for the College’s Great Books and Integral Programs. Similar to St. John’s College, Annapolis, the Integral Program is devoted to the Great Books of Western Civilization; it promotes rigorous analytical thinking and close argumentation: liberal artistry. Classes follow the Socratic method, encouraging students to become the principal agents of their own education. I enjoyed sustained encounters with Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Christian Brothers and the Great Books approach at Saint Mary’s College first introduced me to the vitality of the Catholic intellectual tradition. I developed a close relationship with the late Br. Donald Mansir, FSC. He was my freshman year seminar instructor and I remember early on how impressed I was by his vow of celibacy; I thought there might be something to this Catholicism if such a loving and intelligent man could sacrifice so much for God and others.
Unfortunately, he passed away my junior year. After his death, I started catechesis and began to see the beautiful harmony between faith and reason. Most importantly, I was finally finding my true identity in Christ and it was so relieving and even romantic to give my heart to Him in love once again. As I immersed myself in Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Mass, I not only encountered Christ intimately, especially in the Eucharist, but I also began to thirst for theology. Since theology is faith that seeks understanding, I wanted to pursue it at the highest level, in systematic and historical theology.
As I was applying to graduate schools during my senior year, I was also preparing for Confirmation. Ever since I read his “Confessions,” Augustine’s conversion was always something I could identify with. I chose him to be my confirmation saint and was received into the Church on January 23, 2013. Simultaneously, I was accepted to Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, where I pursued a Masters in Theological Studies.
Vocation Story
As I approached the end of my second year as a Catholic and my final semester at Boston College, I was applying for teaching positions at Catholic high schools. I knew that I wanted to teach and evangelize college students, but I wasn't was ready to continue graduate studies at the doctoral level. God knew the desires of my heart and fulfilled them more than I had anticipated. Two of my closest friends came to me one night in January 2014 and asked if I had ever thought about being a FOCUS missionary. FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) is a lay apostolate where a team of two men and two women serve college students and invite them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The missionaries are called to inspire and equip students for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.
Everything FOCUS missionaries did was what I was looking for: teaching the faith to college students through Bible studies and discipleship; modeling holiness through authentic friendships, daily prayer, and daily Mass; and preaching the gospel through word and deed at every moment. FOCUS is one of the most effective responses to the Church’s call for the New Evangelization and I was honored at the prospect of being a part of it.
One of the unique requirements of FOCUS missionaries is that every first year has to go on a dating fast. The dating fast is a wonderful opportunity to grow closer to Christ in prayer and the Sacraments, and to cultivate authentic friendships with the students. Personally, I also saw it as an opportunity to see if God was drawing me to consecrated life. After all, the dating fast was a way for me to practice celibacy through obedience.
I had the great pleasure of meeting some amazing Dominicans in FOCUS, like Fr. Benedict Croell and Fr. James Brent. After several conversations with them throughout the year, I decided to sign up for the "Come and See" retreat in March 2016. After the retreat, I truly felt at peace and excited that God was drawing me closer to the Dominican vocation. I returned for a second visit, which confirmed my desire to apply and, if accepted, to enter this year. My father asked me what I had been reading in Scripture this year that has drawn me to the Dominicans. First and foremost, Matthew’s great commission passage: “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Second, as the intellectual life and the Eucharist drew me to the Catholic Church, they are now drawing me to the Dominicans. I fervently desire to preach the Gospel and invite all people to witness the beauty, truth, and goodness of the Catholic Church. Reading about the life of St. Dominic continues to inspire me to imitate not only his own poverty, but also that of Christ and the apostles. I desire to be completely detached from earthly possessions so that I can more effectively preach the gospel. Additionally, as Christ in the Eucharist drew me to His Church, I believe He is drawing me to the celibate priesthood. I wish to bring the love and presence of Christ in the Sacraments to others. The main passage of Scripture that inspires me is from the book of Revelation:
"Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless" (Rev. 14:1-5).
With all my heart, I desire to be a spotless priest, to sing the most excellent and beautiful song that is the Mass, and to follow the Lamb – Christ in the Eucharist – wherever he goes.
On May 24 and the Feast of the Translation of St. Dominic's relics, I was officially accepted to the Dominicans of the Western Province! I am truly honored and grateful for the grace of God that has called me to follow in the footsteps of St. Dominic. I enter August 17!!
There is so much more that I could say and I will speak with you if you desire. I am more than happy to answer your phone calls or emails to tell you more!
Thank you SO MUCH and God bless!! And most importantly, please pray for me!
-Ian Parelius
I hopefully know most of you but if not, my name is Ian Parelius and it is a pleasure to encounter you in this GoFundMe page! As you can see from the title of this fund, I have been ACCEPTED to join the Dominicans and in order to move forward, I must first try to pay down as much of my student loans as possible. Please consider giving to this cause and allowing me to be more freely drawn to the Order of Preachers. If you have any questions or anything you want to talk about, do not hesitate to message me via facebook and I’ll happily chat with you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that you know the purpose of this fund, I want to take this opportunity to let you know more about me, who I am, and how I ended up applying to join the Dominicans!
Who I am
My name is Ian Parelius and I was born in Maryland, but raised in Northern California. I grew up in a loving and nurturing home with my mother, father and five younger siblings. Most importantly, Christ has always been at the center of my family. Growing up, the close relationship I had with God was largely mediated by my parents and their high regard for Scripture and daily prayer.
I have only been Catholic since January 23, 2013. I grew up as a non-denominational Christian, attending Calvary Chapel Petaluma. Unfortunately, as high school ended and college began, I walked away from the faith fairly quickly. Nevertheless, I found myself interested in philosophy and the pursuit of truth. I attended Saint Mary’s for the College’s Great Books and Integral Programs. Similar to St. John’s College, Annapolis, the Integral Program is devoted to the Great Books of Western Civilization; it promotes rigorous analytical thinking and close argumentation: liberal artistry. Classes follow the Socratic method, encouraging students to become the principal agents of their own education. I enjoyed sustained encounters with Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Christian Brothers and the Great Books approach at Saint Mary’s College first introduced me to the vitality of the Catholic intellectual tradition. I developed a close relationship with the late Br. Donald Mansir, FSC. He was my freshman year seminar instructor and I remember early on how impressed I was by his vow of celibacy; I thought there might be something to this Catholicism if such a loving and intelligent man could sacrifice so much for God and others.
Unfortunately, he passed away my junior year. After his death, I started catechesis and began to see the beautiful harmony between faith and reason. Most importantly, I was finally finding my true identity in Christ and it was so relieving and even romantic to give my heart to Him in love once again. As I immersed myself in Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Mass, I not only encountered Christ intimately, especially in the Eucharist, but I also began to thirst for theology. Since theology is faith that seeks understanding, I wanted to pursue it at the highest level, in systematic and historical theology.
As I was applying to graduate schools during my senior year, I was also preparing for Confirmation. Ever since I read his “Confessions,” Augustine’s conversion was always something I could identify with. I chose him to be my confirmation saint and was received into the Church on January 23, 2013. Simultaneously, I was accepted to Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, where I pursued a Masters in Theological Studies.
Vocation Story
As I approached the end of my second year as a Catholic and my final semester at Boston College, I was applying for teaching positions at Catholic high schools. I knew that I wanted to teach and evangelize college students, but I wasn't was ready to continue graduate studies at the doctoral level. God knew the desires of my heart and fulfilled them more than I had anticipated. Two of my closest friends came to me one night in January 2014 and asked if I had ever thought about being a FOCUS missionary. FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) is a lay apostolate where a team of two men and two women serve college students and invite them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The missionaries are called to inspire and equip students for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.
Everything FOCUS missionaries did was what I was looking for: teaching the faith to college students through Bible studies and discipleship; modeling holiness through authentic friendships, daily prayer, and daily Mass; and preaching the gospel through word and deed at every moment. FOCUS is one of the most effective responses to the Church’s call for the New Evangelization and I was honored at the prospect of being a part of it.
One of the unique requirements of FOCUS missionaries is that every first year has to go on a dating fast. The dating fast is a wonderful opportunity to grow closer to Christ in prayer and the Sacraments, and to cultivate authentic friendships with the students. Personally, I also saw it as an opportunity to see if God was drawing me to consecrated life. After all, the dating fast was a way for me to practice celibacy through obedience.
I had the great pleasure of meeting some amazing Dominicans in FOCUS, like Fr. Benedict Croell and Fr. James Brent. After several conversations with them throughout the year, I decided to sign up for the "Come and See" retreat in March 2016. After the retreat, I truly felt at peace and excited that God was drawing me closer to the Dominican vocation. I returned for a second visit, which confirmed my desire to apply and, if accepted, to enter this year. My father asked me what I had been reading in Scripture this year that has drawn me to the Dominicans. First and foremost, Matthew’s great commission passage: “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Second, as the intellectual life and the Eucharist drew me to the Catholic Church, they are now drawing me to the Dominicans. I fervently desire to preach the Gospel and invite all people to witness the beauty, truth, and goodness of the Catholic Church. Reading about the life of St. Dominic continues to inspire me to imitate not only his own poverty, but also that of Christ and the apostles. I desire to be completely detached from earthly possessions so that I can more effectively preach the gospel. Additionally, as Christ in the Eucharist drew me to His Church, I believe He is drawing me to the celibate priesthood. I wish to bring the love and presence of Christ in the Sacraments to others. The main passage of Scripture that inspires me is from the book of Revelation:
"Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless" (Rev. 14:1-5).
With all my heart, I desire to be a spotless priest, to sing the most excellent and beautiful song that is the Mass, and to follow the Lamb – Christ in the Eucharist – wherever he goes.
On May 24 and the Feast of the Translation of St. Dominic's relics, I was officially accepted to the Dominicans of the Western Province! I am truly honored and grateful for the grace of God that has called me to follow in the footsteps of St. Dominic. I enter August 17!!
There is so much more that I could say and I will speak with you if you desire. I am more than happy to answer your phone calls or emails to tell you more!
Thank you SO MUCH and God bless!! And most importantly, please pray for me!
-Ian Parelius
Organizer
Ian Parelius
Organizer
Petaluma, CA
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