The Catholic Standard & Times

From the Brook
A Weekly Profile of Members
of the Ordination Class of 2008
from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood

Deacon Martin Joseph Ivanovich

Age: 27

Where Born: Bartoszyce, Poland

Where Baptized: St. John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Bartoszyce, Poland

Parents, Sibling: Zbigniew Iwanowicz and Bozena Iwanowicz; a younger brother, Sebastian

Home Parish: St. Josaphat Parish, Philadelphia

Current Diaconate Assignment: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Morton

Grade School, Year Graduated: Romuald Traugutt Public Elementary School, Bartoszyce, Poland, 1995

High School, Year Graduated: Samuel S. Fels High School, Philadelphia, 1999

College, Year Graduated; Major and Degree: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, 2003; bachelor of arts in philosophy.

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary entrance date: August 1999

Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
I was 5 years old and my parents would take me to church every Sunday. I remember big crowds, and I was small and unable to see what was going on at the altar. Nevertheless, I remember the beautiful sound of the organ music and singing. As I think of it now, the experience at the time was something of a mystery and fascination.

At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the Seminary?
I was 14 years old when I first knew that Christ was calling me to the priesthood. It was through my involvement in the parish in Poland and being around the priests that I began my journey of discernment of the call to priesthood. The deciding moment that led me to enter the seminary was when I was accepted at St. Charles.

Who inspired and influenced you most in your decision to enter the Seminary, and how?
My biggest influence in my decision to enter the seminary was my pastor in Poland and Msgr. John Wendrychowicz, my former pastor at St. Josaphat Parish in Philadelphia who is now pastor at St. Agnes Parish in Sellersville.

They both inspired me by their devotion to Christ and the people they served.

Were there any particular moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the Seminary? This last year?
A particular grace-filled event was last year, when I was ordained to the diaconate.

What has been your favorite apostolate assignment, and why?
I liked all my apostolate assignments because all of them were unique and prepared me for my future ministry as a priest.

In contrast to your early days at the Seminary, who were you then, and who are you now?
I believe that I have matured and grown in self-confidence since I first entered the seminary.

What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
I will definitely miss the other seminarians. I will also miss the priests and lay staff who work so hard in helping us to one day be holy and faithful priests.

What advice do you have for current underclassmen about their remaining years at St. Charles?
I would ask them to continue to excel in their studies, to learn as much as they can and grow closer in relationship to Christ.

What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
I would ask all planning to enter St. Charles Seminary this fall to be themselves and take as much as they can from the studies and prayer life that is offered here.

What do you do for recreation?
During the winter, I go ice-skating on Friday afternoons. I also like to read books and go fishing.

What is your favorite devotion, and why?
My favorite devotion is the rosary because it is the most powerful weapon against the devil.

What does the priesthood mean to you?
Priesthood is sacrificing one’s life for another person, just as Christ has done for us.

What is your greatest hope for the Church?
My greatest hope for the Church is Pope Benedict XVI, who, like St. Peter, will guide his Church victoriously through the challenges that might await in the near future.

What will you, as a priest, do to combat negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
I hope to give example by my life and prayer, and to show people that there is a way of avoiding negative influences so that they don’t control our lives.

Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
I hope that through my preaching of the Good News I can bring others to Christ.

— Compiled by Christie L. Chicoine, CS&T Staff Writer