Kat Stultz, Staff Writer

I knew something was up when I got an email saying that the Holy Cross Spirituality class I had registered for was canceled.  I soon learned that Fr. Drew Gawrych, the instructor for the class, was going to Rome.

Fr. Drew left for Rome at the beginning of this spring semester.  The Holy Cross Vocations website states that “Fr. Andrew Gawrych, CSC, joined the Office of Vocations staff in 2010 after serving as deacon and then parochial vicar at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Goodyear, Ariz.”

Following his graduation from Notre Dame in 2002, Fr. Drew joined the Congregation of Holy Cross, and in 2007 was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 2008, and “in addition to his vocation ministry, Fr. Andrew has written several books on Holy Cross spirituality.”

Fr. Drew lived in Keough Hall during this fall semester, aiding his friend and fellow confrere Fr. Pete McCormick CSC with the weekday Masses, including the special root beer float Mass on Wednesday nights.  He also served as spiritual director for many of the men in formation of Holy Cross and was an Associate Director in the Office of Vocations.

When I recently talked with Fr. Pete about Fr. Drew’s departure, he stated that “Holy Cross does many good things, but needs a broader, global perspective.”  The Congregation of Holy Cross has done a great job in many apostolates, but it is imperative that the Holy Cross mission and message reach out to a wider audience.  This is where Fr. Drew comes in.

The details of Fr. Drew’s position in Rome are still being worked out, though Fr. Pete did say that Fr. Drew’s duties will likely include “packaging and distilling information about Holy Cross to a wider audience in print, online, and in policy.”  Those who have heard Fr. Drew’s homilies know he is a great fit for the task at hand.

I recently watched one of Fr. Drew’s interviews on Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation’s website.  During the interview he said that to live out his vocation is to “bring, bear, and be God’s light to others.”  He has done so through his service to the Congregation of the Holy Cross and I know he will continue to do so in Rome.

Fr. Drew spoke in a homily this fall about claims on our lives, and how these claims will always be present.  This is very true of him, and through his example I have learned that we live out our vocation by responding in obedient love to those claims on our lives.  In another homily he used the comparison of a dancing couple. We cannot try to lead with God; we must let Him lead us.  Rome is making a claim on Fr. Drew until June, at which time he may return to Notre Dame. In the meantime, he is letting God lead him through the process.

Kat Stultz is a sophomore theology and pre-health major who lives in Welsh Family Hall. She tends to make puns that evoke laughter from very few people. Perhaps a career as a stand-up comedian is not in the cards….offer advice at kstultz@nd.edu.