On May 17, senior Liam Schlosser will be the only student of Old College to graduate from the University. Schlosser, a philosophy and theology joint major, is from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
According to his profile page, Schlosser was drawn to Holy Cross because of “The Spirituality of Holy Cross compels Holy Cross religious to stand with the suffering just as Mary did at the foot of Jesus’ Cross. I too want to walk with others in this way!”
Speaking with The Observer, Schlosser noted that he is presently in the petition process and the next step of his journey will be to enter the postulancy program at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate. Presently, he is waiting for a response from the Holy Cross provincial for acceptance to the program.
Next year, Schlosser explained he will be a non-degree-seeking student aiming to broaden his academic knowledge, human formation and spiritual formation as he works to make “good connections with the guys there.”
Ultimately, Schlosser hopes to become a priest, saying this is where he feels called. However, he noted that he is open to any vocation.
Coming to Notre Dame four years ago, Schlosser entered as a degree-seeking philosophy major living in Dunne Hall. He lived there for two years before making the transition to Old College and becoming a theology and philosophy joint major.
Speaking of his influences when making this decision, Schlosser noted that Fr. Eric Schimmel, rector of Dunne Hall when Schlosser lived there, and Fr. Kevin Grove, priest in residence of Dunne Hall when Schlosser lived there, aided him in this process.
“Selfishly, I was a little disappointed when Liam chose to enter Old College after his sophomore year because as the rector of Dunne, I wanted to have him in the dorm another two years. As a Holy Cross priest, I am excited that he is in formation to discern his vocation with us and would love to serve with him in ministry in the future,” Schimmel wrote in a statement to The Observer.
“It's a great joy to see among Notre Dame students a supportive culture for vocational discernment. I've observed increased interest in, support for, and dialogue about religious life and priesthood,” Grove wrote.
Moving into Old College, Schlosser said that the change was a large transition to a more structured and committed lifestyle of morning and evening prayers and community meals. However, he said that he felt he adapted quickly.
“Everyone agrees that Liam is a wonderful young man. He has exemplified the hallmarks of an education in the Holy Cross tradition,” Fr. Karl Romkema, director of Old College, wrote in a statement to The Observer. “Further, he has allowed his heart to be formed at Notre Dame by becoming a loyal friend to many. Liam‘s four years have been a reciprocal process: not just taking from the institution, but rather giving himself as a blessing.”
During the spring of his junior year, Schlosser studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, with 14 other undergraduate students. During this time, Schlosser lived in Santiago’s International House of Formation of Holy Cross with other members of the Congregation. Schlosser called this “a formative semester.”
During his time in Chile, Schlosser met Fr. Zach Rathke, rector of the seminary in Santiago, whom he later referred to as one of his recent inspirations. Schlosser noted the difficulty of life in Santiago and the variety of cultures within one house of formation as some of the hardships Rathke faced. However, Schlosser said, “Every day I see him show up with the same consistent, positive supporting face, and be loving, and that to me is very inspiring.”
In a statement to The Observer, Rathke noted that he believes Schlosser’s experience was transformative to his vocational discernment.
“A deep dive into a new culture brings great adventures and excitement, and yet it also typically brings tremendous adjustments and even sufferings. This was certainly the case for Liam‘s experience here,” Rathke wrote. “Misunderstandings and misconceptions of the other can abound in such a setting. Liam approached his whole experience with great joy, deep faith, unshakeable hope, and a fraternal spirit. Due to that, he ended up being a kind of glue for our house by engaging with everyone with patience and with authentic concern.”
Rathke continued, “On top of that, Liam forged an amazing network of friends while he was here, and so he invited a host of young people to visit our formation house and to come to know about our life. He truly seemed to live up to our call to be apostolic missionaries!”
Returning to Old College, Schlosser noted that he has, “really come to love the simple times in community that we have,” citing morning prayer, eating breakfast and Sunday dinners together.
Recalling his first draw to this calling, Schlosser recalled a story told to him by his mother when he was seven years old, of a Saint who laid down their life for Christ. He said that after this moment, he knew he wanted to serve Christ.
“God spoke to me in different ways and I became more open to whatever his will might be,” Schlosser said.
In addition to Schlosser, Paul Gates and Austin Brezina are two seniors graduating from Holy Cross College, both of whom are already at the Moreau Seminary as Postulants and lived in Old College.
