ALUMNI Spotlight
Mitch CARSON An Alum Prepares to Enter the Priesthood ’16
by Dan Minnich ’80
The long road to becoming a priest began at Borromeo Seminary. After two years there, he moved to the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he finished his undergraduate degree and earned a master’s in philosophy. He then returned to Northeast Ohio and St. Mary Seminary, where he is in his final year of preparation. With his priestly ordination mere months away, Deacon Mitch is anxiously awaiting the opportunity to begin his ministry. “You get to minister to so many people at really beautiful moments of our lives in a beautiful and joyful way.” Deacon Mitch will soon interview with the committee of priests that makes recommendations on parish assignments to the bishop. While he has remained in touch with his alma mater, he might have an opportunity to be around the hallowed halls on the corner of Gulf and Poplar a bit more often. “Lorain County has a special place in my heart. I think it would be really cool to minister there.”
Next spring, an Elyria Catholic alum hopes to begin a vocation for which he has spent the past decade preparing and that reflects exceedingly well on his alma mater. Mitchell Carson was ordained a transitional deacon earlier this year, and next spring he is scheduled to wrap up preparations for the priesthood that began shortly after his 2016 high school graduation. Deacon Mitch says his Elyria Catholic experience played a key role in his decision to pursue the priesthood. “It was the environment in which it was possible to hear the Lord inviting me.” Mitch says morning Communion services had a significant impact. “At the start of the day it was about being around the Lord and being around people who wanted to take time to be around the Lord.” He says Mr. Juguilon’s theology classes also helped him hear the Lord’s call. “I think they made me aware that faith is something that you can involve your whole mind in…and
something that I could actually give my life over to instead of just tolerating on Sundays.” He had three brothers who all attended EC, so there was no doubt where he would go to high school. But some classmates may be surprised about his decision to attend the seminary. “I didn’t really tell anyone about it. I told everybody I was going to Ohio State because that was the plan initially.” Something that surprised new friends in high school was one of his two extracurricular activities. Deacon Mitch played offensive lineman for the Panther football team all four years. His other school activity outside of classes was a bit more in line with what he describes as a bookish and introverted high school persona: membership on the Academic Challenge team. Deacon Mitch is the son of Dennis and Rhonda Carson of Columbia Station. He attended St. Peter School in North Ridgeville.
www.elyriacatholic.com 7
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