Deacon Andrew Brinkman
Age: 27
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Home parish: St. Stephen, Minneapolis
Parents: Ronald and Christine Brinkman
Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas
Teaching parish: St. Stephen, Minneapolis
Pastoral learning experiences: Door-to-door evangelization in Minneapolis
Hobbies: Skateboarding, biking, listening to music and reading
Favorite book: “Island of the World” by Michael O’Brien.
Favorite movie: “Fiddler on the Roof”
Person you most admire and why: Paul Melton. He recently died at the age of 88. I admire him because he loved life, the Lord and the Church, and he was very good to me.
Thanksgiving Mass: 11 a.m. May 26 at St. Stephen in Minneapolis
What led to your looking seriously into the priesthood?
On a whim, I signed up for a weekly hour of eucharistic adoration when I was a senior in high school. It was after a couple months of eucharistic adoration that I met Jesus.
Not too long after that I began to ask questions about my life, and the priesthood was a prospect.
What were you doing before you entered the seminary?
I was doing a lot of skateboarding with my friends and working at a pastry shop in Ann Arbor.
Were there any reasons why you had not considered the priesthood earlier in your life?
I didn’t know the Lord Jesus in a personal way. And, I was very busy skateboarding and doing my own thing.
Also, the priesthood is not easy, and I think the prospect of living celibate for my whole life was scary.
When was the first time you thought about the priesthood?
My mother has a photo of me “celebrating” the Mass with my older brother at the age of 4, but I don’t know what I was thinking at the time. I thought about it when I was 9, but also began to unthink about it at the same time.
I thought about the priesthood seriously when I saw John Paul the Great at the age of 16.
What people and/or experiences were instrumental in identifying and developing your vocation?
A family friend, Tom, my dad, my cousin Kyle, the good influence of some priests back in Ann Arbor — Fathers Ed Fride, Eric Weber and Bob Roggenbuck.
What excites you most about becoming a priest?
I look forward to being a part of a band of brothers.
During my seminary formation, I have had the opportunity to work and pray with other men who have received this call to the priesthood.
The fraternal life that has grown out of our priestly call has given me strength and inspired me.
How would you like to answer the call to evangelization in your priestly ministry?
During his apostolic journey in September 2011, Pope Benedict said to the German Parliament that the emergence of the ecological movement in Germany was a sign of hope.
The growth of the so-called green movement has some promising aspects to it, some of which mesh with the natural law and the Gospel.
I would like to see the evangelization of and conversion of the green movement to the Lord Jesus.
What encouragement and/or advice do you have for young men who may be considering the priesthood?
Entering the seminary has helped me mature — most especially by teaching me how to make a commitment.
The prospect of making a lifelong commitment is daunting, but the seminary has taught me to experience joy in making a lifelong commitment for the Lord and his Church.
Brothers, don’t be afraid to make a commitment to the Lord.
