(I'm the one in the center)

Blessings! My name is Luke Mayer, and I am entering my first year of seminary with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. I am from the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. My home parish was St. Peter in Carencro, but after many years, I discovered the Latin Mass at St. Joseph in Plaisance. Since then, my discernment process has fallen into the holy grasp of the ancient form of the Mass.

As with many seminarians, the discernment process began in high school, specifically ninth grade for me. Although I had ideas about priesthood in middle school, the picture was never fully painted. I knew what a priest did (frankly, only very little did I know) and that he was not given a hefty salary, but I did not bother too much with it. Once ninth grade came, I knew I had to discern properly because, within three years, I would have to be preparing for the real world.

The priesthood came back, but this time more firmly. I had witnessed my brother discern it, so now it was my time. After participating in my diocese's "Quo Vadis" retreats and "Come and See" at St. Benedict Seminary in Covington, Louisiana, I knew God was calling me to a deeper life in religion. Was it secular priesthood or religious priesthood? I believed God wanted to use me in the world within the rules and structure of an order. So, since my freshman year of high school, I have grown to believe that God has been calling me to the secular priesthood governed by a rule.

How I fell into the Institute was simple. Before entering candidacy, I researched different Latin Mass priesthood fraternities and discovered the Institute of Christ the King. I decided to obtain spiritual direction from St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur, Louisiana, and that was how I became part of the Institute.

For my first year of seminary, the costs will amount to $11,550. The goal is currently set to $5,500 (roughly half the tuition), but will be raised if necessity requires. I ask that you please give any amount, even if it is only your prayers. Prayers are needed primarily!

May God bless you.