Tom Schulzetenberg, the director of strategic projects at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, has discerned between priesthood and Catholic higher education. He has navigated the difficulties of discerning college. As an undergraduate at the University of St. Thomas (with campuses in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Rome), he was enrolled at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, and discerned that priesthood was not for him.
Schulzetenberg told Practicing Catholic producer Rachael McCallum on the program that will air at 9 p.m. Nov. 8 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, “I wanted to teach religion in Catholic high schools after getting a master’s in theology from The St. Paul Seminary. That didn’t work out either, so the Lord pointed me in a different path towards administration, first with the archdiocese (of St. Paul and Minneapolis), and then I ended up with the University of Mary as director of the Rome program.”
With a career in higher Catholic education, Schulzetenberg often helps parents understand the difference in campus culture and mission between a healthy Catholic school and a state school. He describes it as “integrated” versus “disintegrated,” meaning a Catholic campus offers a holistic, harmonized experience, whereas a state school’s programs and activities can feel separate from one another.
“That’s not their mission, to offer this sort of holistic experience,” Schulzetenberg said. “I’m not saying that’s good or bad. I’m just saying these are the sorts of experiences that one should be aware of, and if they choose to go that path, to being cognizant of that. A Catholic young man or young woman has to navigate these in appropriate ways. As we think about not just academics and the finances, we should also think about mission culture, and then another area which I oftentimes mention, this increasingly important student support.”
Schulzetenberg said student support goes beyond advising and mental health support. He suggests young men and women ask who their mentors are, the people who want them to succeed as a person, and not just a fellow student.
“Not everyone’s supposed to go to college,” Schulzetenberg said. “My dad was an electrician for 40 years and had his own business. Never went to college. He went to a vocational school and I think these are very viable paths which we should consider. … The trades are very, very important, not just to an economy but to a thriving society. College is not meant for everyone. It’s an investment of time, investment in money and it’s not something that every profession needs and not something that everyone should feel forced to do, because that also cheapens the degree.”
To learn more about what to consider when discerning a Catholic higher education from Tom Schulzetenberg, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. Nov. 9 and 2 p.m. Nov. 10.
The program also includes a discussion with Father Jim Livingston about the Catholic belief in purgatory. Also, Jeff Reither shares his personal story of navigating the loss of a child and how faith offered hope and healing.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the program can also be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
