Seminarian William Gerads

Ham Lake, MN
Theology I
Mount St. Mary Seminary; Emmitsburg, MD

William Gerads was born and raised in Ham Lake, MN. A triplet, William and his siblings were active in their local Lutheran church, attending several mission trips and various retreats. Despite his family's religious affiliation, he felt a desire to be a Catholic priest around third grade, however this desire faded as he entered high school. His conversion began in 2018 as he entered his freshman year at North Dakota State University. He began RCIA and entered into full communion with the Catholic church at St. Mary’s Cathedral in 2019. His Catholic grandmother was his sponsor, as she played an integral role in his faith formation.

William was very involved at the Newman Center throughout his years at NDSU. Through a combination of various conversations with Msgr. Schlesselmann and Fr. Cheney as well as a moving experience at the annual SEEK conference, he developed a renewed interest in discerning a call to the priesthood. He continued to grow in his faith through Hospice Ministries, regular prayer and Mass attendance, spiritual direction, and attending various vocations retreats and events. It was at one of these retreats that William had a moving experience in adoration that gave him the confidence that God was calling him to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Fargo.