The pursuit of faith is a journey, not a destination. Even as we grow spiritually, there is always more knowledge to be had, more charity to be offered, and more Christian works to be performed. Many are content to move forward with sufficient knowledge to confirm their beliefs and to build upon that knowledge as a confirmation of their faithfulness in growing closer to Christ throughout their lives.

For others, like DHS alumnus Jack Boczar, a superficial understanding of God and scripture is not enough. Spiritual and academic pursuits drive him to drink from the deepest fountains of knowledge and base his faithfulness on the solace he finds in the order of the logical thoughts and explanations offered by the most learned philosophers and theologians of the past and present.

His unquenchable quest for knowledge and understanding has guided his life from a Protestant upbringing to a published scholar of the Catholic faith. Reflecting on his past, Jack’s unique narrative highlights embracing God through the relentless pursuit of truth and reminds us that if we remain faithful, God will always lead us to clarity through the fog of doubt.

Embracing Challenges of Faith

Jack’s journey to faith was far from straightforward. Raised in an evangelical Protestant household, he was no stranger to religious teachings. In his family, questioning and seeking deeper understanding were encouraged. This foundation was pivotal in shaping Jack’s approach to faith and philosophy. His parents, particularly his mother, who was well-versed in theological teaching, played a significant role in nurturing his inquisitive mind, as did the other kids around him.

“I would always go back to one time in eighth grade when a classmate asked, ‘If God created everything, then who created God?’ I was stumped. That question haunted me and pushed me into deeper philosophical exploration,” Jack recalled. This relentless questioning, born from one moment in his youth, defined much of his intellectual journey.

During his undergraduate years at the University of Toledo, where he double-majored in economics and philosophy, Jack grappled with existential questions that many avoid. While secular academia challenged and tested his core beliefs, he could never fully let go of the Christian tenets he felt in his heart.

Jack’s academic path took him from the University of Toledo to the University of Georgia, where he began a PhD in Philosophy. Here, he encountered the works of Hegel and other continental philosophers, but also, significantly, the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. His grandmother had once mentioned Aquinas to him, a suggestion he initially laughed off. However, as Jack delved deeper into philosophical studies, Aquinas’ systematic approach began to resonate with him.

Though not confirmed yet, Jack was so intrigued by Aquinas he started a chapter of the Thomistic Institute at the University of Georgia. This endeavor deepened his understanding of Aquinas and connected him with a community of like-minded individuals who were equally committed to exploring the depths of faith and reason.

The knowledge he acquired there, paired with the demonstrable faith of other members of his Thomistic Institute chapter, prompted him to seek a program that would fully immerse him in theology and philosophy from an intentionally spiritual perspective.

The Role of Academic Rigor

Jack ultimately found himself at DHS. Our renowned, rigorous academic programs provided an environment that both challenged and nurtured Jack’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits. Completing a two-year master’s program in theology was no small feat. The program required proficiency in two languages, completing over 36 credit hours, and submitting an extensive master’s thesis. The intellectual rigor of the program forced Jack to confront his lingering doubts about the Catholic faith head-on. It provided a structured framework within which he could foster his personal connections to the teachings more deeply.

In particular, his recurring connection with St. Thomas Aquinas and the greater enlightenment of his works provided by the DHS faculty drew Jack closer and closer to confirmation.

“Reading Aquinas was like finding a clear stream in a dense forest. His method of laying out questions, objections, and arguments in a systematic way was refreshing. It made the complex philosophical debates more accessible and comprehensible,” Jack explained.

The clarity and precision of Aquinas’s writings offered a stark contrast to the often opaque and convoluted texts of other philosophers, such as Hegel and Kant.

A Slow Burn to Conversion

Despite his growing appreciation for Aquinas and medieval philosophy, Jack’s journey to Catholicism was gradual. Continuous doubt and rigorous intellectual scrutiny obscured the path. He engaged deeply with theological issues, particularly those that challenged his faith the most. Given his fairly unique level of analytical curiosity, any doctrinal nuance had the potential to cause uncertainty.

“There were sleepless nights where I doubted everything. I didn’t believe any of it. But then, there were other times when everything made sense, and I felt a deep connection to the faith,” he admitted.

This oscillation between doubt and belief eventually solidified his conviction of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Jack’s approach to these doubts was methodical; he read extensively, engaged in discussions with scholars and theologians, and allowed himself the time to reflect and contemplate.

The Confirmation Process

Even with spiritual and intellectual validation, the journey to the Sacrament of Confirmation was not without its challenges. If Jack uncovered a troubling theological issue, he meticulously pondered it through prayer and study. He read extensively, consulted with scholars, and deeply reflected.

“I didn’t want to have any excuses for myself. I wanted to be sure of my commitment,” Jack explained.

Ultimately, Jack sought confirmation because of a combination of intellectual satisfaction and spiritual conviction. He approached Fr. Gregory Schnakenberg, O.P., a respected church historian and DHS faculty member, who guided him through the final stages of his journey. Father Schnakenberg’s historical perspective complemented the theological insights Jack had gained from other scholars, providing a well-rounded foundation for his faith.

Jack’s confirmation was a significant milestone, marking the culmination of years of searching, questioning, and ultimately finding a home within the Catholic Church.

“It was a gradual process, but by the end of my time at DHS, I was ready. I felt a deep sense of peace and certainty about my decision,” Jack reflected.

Faith as a Lifelong Journey

Jack’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that every person walks a unique path to faithfulness, and the path is as significant as the summit. It’s about the continual search for truth, even when faced with daunting doubts. His experience highlights that questioning and seeking are integral to growing our faith.

Jack’s journey offers a reassuring message for those struggling with belief: it’s okay to doubt, question, and seek. Through persistent inquiry and openness to God’s guidance, one can find the true path illuminated by faith. Jack’s story is a reminder that, amid life’s uncertainties, there is a light that guides those who seek it with a sincere heart.

Jack’s current endeavors reflect his commitment to being a beacon of light for others. With multiple published articles and ongoing research, he aims to provide clarity and guidance to those grappling with similar questions.

Lights are shining brightly in this seemingly dark world. Some will find us, and others we must search deeply for. Most importantly, we must never lose hope. Jack’s journey illustrates that no storm is too heavy and no path too overgrown for us to find our way back to God. The direction may not always be clear, but the pursuit is deeply rewarding and profoundly transformative.

If contemplating Jack’s journey compels you to support DHS in our endeavors to share Christ’s teachings with the world, please click here to support this work.

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“I wasn’t called to be a professor. I wasn’t called to be a teacher. I was called to go know God.”

These are the words of lifelong seeker Adamo Manfra as he summarizes his journey in faith. It is a faith sown while growing up in a Catholic household, fortified throughout his adolescent years, clarified while serving his country, and sharpened at The Dominican House of Studies. Even now, Adamo continually seeks clarity and growth in his professional life, and God continues to provide.

His statement encapsulates the profound essence of his journey through spirituality and the world. The constancy of being drawn to God in his life often appeared as detours, but ultimately, it illuminated the inspired path he was destined to follow. This path has taken him from the familiar pews of his childhood church to impactful roles in faith and public policy.

Roots in Faith and Service

Raised in a devout Catholic household, Adamo’s journey deepened from an early age. Moving from being passively taken to church to actively going marked his first steps toward spiritual autonomy.

“I was always active in my faith,” he stated, recalling how he and a friend initiated a second youth group night, demonstrating his early commitment to community and church leadership. This early engagement laid a strong foundation, embedding a commitment to faith that would guide his life’s trajectory.

Molded by Military Service

His commitment to service was further galvanized when he joined the Marine Corps, where he served for over six years, including a critical deployment to Afghanistan. It was here, amidst the starkness of military chapels and the rigors of duty, that his faith crystallized.

“It was all about Jesus,” he said, reflecting on the simplicity of daily Mass in a war zone. “It was a plywood chapel with plywood pews. Many of the people in attendance had rifles. It was a unique approach to worship for sure.”

With some of the superficial layers of the practice stripped away, the profound centrality of Christ in both the Gospel and Adamo’s life was made clear to him.

Navigating Hurdles: Theological Pursuit

The decision to delve deeper into theology emerged during his time in Afghanistan, encouraged by influential military chaplains and pivotal religious texts. He found himself actively considering ending his military career to pursue theology. During this time, he encountered numerous obstacles.

Each challenge posed the question: Is this a hurdle or a wall?

Through prayerful discernment, what seemed like insurmountable barriers were transformed into manageable hurdles by his steadfast faith and the guidance he received from God.

“God kept saying, yes, you can,” he recalled, acknowledging the divine encouragement that helped him navigate each decision point.

This period of discernment led him to the Dominican House of Studies, renowned for its rigorous academic approach to Catholic theology. Here, he immersed himself in the study of Thomas Aquinas, which proved transformative.

“If you want to see the world differently, to see it through God’s approach, DHS is where you need to be,” he asserted, highlighting how the institution shaped his understanding and equipped him to engage the world through a lens of faith.

Faith in Action: Public Policy and Advocacy

Today, his theological insights fuel his advocacy in public policy, where he champions biblical values in the public arena. This work represents a career shift and a continuation of his mission to live out his faith actively. He approaches complex social issues with a theological perspective, striving to infuse divine truth into public discourse and legislation, advocating for laws that reflect Biblical values and enhance the common good.

Legacy and Continuing Journey

Adamo Manfra’s journey, though somewhat unconventional, underscores a fundamental truth about faith: it is not static but a dynamic, lifelong pursuit. For him, every step is a move towards greater clarity, guided by the teachings of the Church and a steadfast belief in God’s presence in every facet of life.

Adamo Manfra’s collective experiences and receptiveness to God’s calls in their many forms exemplify a profound dedication to understanding and living out the truths of his faith. His story is a testament to the transformative power of spirituality that guides us through personal tempests and empowers us to effect meaningful change in the world.

We may not know where God is calling us or why, but we do know that if we heed His call, He will place us where He needs us most.

If reading Adamo’s story compels you to support our mission of creating highly educated advocates for Christ in a world that so desperately needs to hear Him, you may show your support here.

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In an ever-evolving world where the tempests of life often obscure clarity, college-aged individuals find themselves at a crossroads as they chart their course in the world.

For students like Molly Egilsrud, a current Ph.D. student in moral theology at The Catholic University of America, the path to enlightenment is rarely linear. What seems important at one age can lose its luster as individual experiences and surprise connections turn eyes from a secular professional direction back to an opportunity to shine as a beacon for God.

Molly’s journey from undergraduate studies at Georgetown University to the Dominican House of Studies (DHS) and beyond is certainly unique. What is clear in speaking to her, however, is that the time she spent earning her master’s degree at DHS has had an illuminating impact on both her academic and spiritual life.

A Path Emerges

Georgetown, a Jesuit university, may seem an unlikely precursor to enrollment in a school steeped in the Dominican tradition like DHS. However, Molly’s educational journey illustrates how God is always working in our lives and placing us where we need to be. Her experiences at Georgetown and after graduation sowed seeds that will ultimately yield generations of preachers of God’s Word.

“People are always surprised by how I ended up at DHS,” Molly reflected. She attributes her decision largely to the influence of Dominican friars she met after a friend from her parish invited her to a Bible study while they were both living and working in Washington, DC. Her experiences during those sessions eventually led her to pursue a deeper understanding of her faith and her future role within it.

Molly found her career at a secular company unfulfilling after graduating from Georgetown. This lack of fulfillment prompted a period of introspection and openness to divine guidance.

“I didn’t really see a future with the company I was working for,” she admitted. “So I was just at a place of real openness with the Lord, and I asked. What do I do here? What do I want to do next?”

In that moment of contemplation, God compelled Molly to reflect deeply on her encounters with the Dominican Friars in her parish and the knowledge she was acquiring regularly in Bible study.

“I remember marveling at how they knew so much about the faith and were able to think on their feet and knew so much about everything,” she said.

Their vibrant, intelligent witness to Christ nudged her toward DHS, a decision she credits as being “the right thing.”

The DHS Experience

Reflecting on her time at DHS, Molly emphasized the unique educational approach of the institution, succinctly describing it as an orderly system of thought within a tradition.

This methodology, she observed, is instrumental in forming a cohesive and comprehensive understanding of theological principles. The alignment of thought shared amongst the faculty compounds the interconnectedness of the lessons.

This all-encompassing nature of the curriculum turned philosophy from a subject Molly was reluctant to study into an enjoyable subject that led to an even deeper understanding of theology.

The tight sense of community and shared pursuit of the truth also struck Molly.

“It’s like homeschool slash high school slash seminary,” she described, highlighting the close-knit environment that fosters both academic and spiritual growth.

Even with that analogy in mind, she quickly pointed out how rigorous the studies are, stating, “It’s very intense because it’s driven by the friars, and their whole lives are organized around study.”

The integrated structure of the coursework, along with the repetition and reinforcement of key concepts, prepared her well for the challenges of a Ph. D. program and beyond.

Looking Ahead: Teaching and Evangelization

As she nears the end of her doctoral studies, Molly is looking ahead to a future of teaching and contributing to the academic world through the lens of Thomistic theology. Her aspiration to become a college or seminary professor is rooted in a desire to share the richness of Catholic theology, informed by her experiences and education at DHS.

“DHS is totally foundational for my intellectual life,” she stated, underscoring the profound impact of the school on her approach to teaching and scholarship. “I want to make sure I’m handing down the Thomistic tradition.”

Molly’s journey underscores the transformative power of education deeply embedded in tradition and community. Her story is a testament to the way DHS not only shapes the minds of its students but also prepares them to be luminaries in a world that yearns for clarity and truth. As she continues her academic and spiritual journey, Molly carries the legacy of DHS with her. With that legacy, she is poised to illuminate the path for others with the same light that guided her.

Molly’s story is just one example of how DHS brightens the world with the knowledge of Christ. If reading her story compels you to support our mission, please click here to learn how you can contribute.

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St. Dominic was inspired by the conviction that knowledge is the surest path to Christ. He established his order to ensure that those who understood Christ most deeply could share their understanding with those needing light. Communally, all souls would grow together on God’s enlightened path and enjoy the eternal rewards of faithfulness.

The Dominican House of Studies (DHS) exists to perpetuate the mission of St. Dominic. Our revered institution receives learned individuals seeking to better understand Christ’s role in their lives, increases their knowledge, and then sends them into the world so that they may bring more souls to Him.

Current DHS doctoral student Father Thomas Aquinas Pickett, OP, embodies our mission. A self-described “cradle Catholic,” he was born to faithful parents who ensured he remained mindful of the worth and purpose of his soul.

Coupling the foundations of his parents’ teachings and the spiritual gift of intellectual curiosity bestowed upon him by God, Father Pickett has embarked upon a life’s quest for understanding. Acquiring knowledge is edifying for him, but his greatest desire is to share this knowledge to edify others.

Gaining and Sharing the Light

While spirituality and faithfulness were always present in his home, the world outside those four walls was much different.

“I grew up in an area where there are a lot of non-Catholics,” he recounted, “and they would either ask me questions or challenge me on certain things. It was imperative for me to articulate my faith. There were many misconceptions I had to correct.”

While he did not understand how people could lack such clarity, he learned that the perfection of God’s truth provided every answer he would ever need. This clarity set him on the path of a relentless pursuit of the light of Christ.

A Cradle Catholic’s Quest

As he matured, Father Pickett was most intrigued by the elements of his faith that he least understood.

“I was always intrigued by the mysteries of faith, not just to absorb what I was taught, but to question, understand, and challenge the tenets of my faith,” he reflects.

This profound curiosity led him to explore the depths of theological and philosophical questions as a philosophy student in his college years. This was particularly evident in his desire to understand prayer and its relationship with God’s plan.

“I started wondering if God knows everything already,” he shared, “why are we talking to Him? Or, if everything is following His plan, are we trying to change it when we’re praying? What does prayer actually do?”

In this period of questioning, he discovered the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, which profoundly transformed his understanding of prayer, God’s providence, and the essence of truth.

The Dominican Way

The Dominican Order’s commitment to preaching and teaching provided the perfect pathway for deepening his pursuit.

“St. Thomas Aquinas, with his analytical approach to theology, offered a framework that truly resonated with me,” he stated. “The Dominican Order’s charism of contemplation and sharing the fruits of that contemplation was exactly what I was looking for.”

This pursuit was not merely intellectual but a spiritual quest to live out the truths he discovered.

Formation at the Dominican House of Studies

The Dominican House of Studies has played a crucial role in refining both his intellect and spirituality. Here, he has learned that to share Christ effectively with others, he must first embody the Gospel’s truth in his own life.

“Theology at DHS is not just a subject of study but a way of life that demands a commitment to holiness,” he recalled.

“I remember a professor telling me very explicitly early on that theology can’t just be an academic discipline,” he continued, “to be a theologian requires knowing, loving, and serving Christ. Without that, you are doing an academic exercise, but without the grace necessary to truly understand what you are learning.”

Spreading the Word

Upon completing his doctorate at DHS, Father Pickett will serve as a professor at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. His deep knowledge and inspirational message will edify and enlighten others dedicated to holy service. His students will share the Holy Gospel armed with the truths they need to bring souls unto Christ.

As Father Pickett prepares to teach and form future Dominicans and evangelists, his story stands as a powerful witness to a faith that seeks understanding—a faith unwilling to settle for easy answers but instead dives deep into the Gospel’s heart.

“My journey from a curious child to a dedicated friar and theologian highlights the communal aspect of our pursuit of Christ. It’s not just about seeking answers for ourselves but for the entire world,” he explained.

A Beacon of Light for the World

His narrative is a vivid reminder that the path to Christ is both deeply personal and inherently communal. It underscores the importance of seeking Christ for personal enlightenment and as a mission to bring truth and clarity to others.

“I hope my story serves as a beacon of light for those navigating the seas of doubt and confusion, offering a path that leads to truth, clarity, and ultimately, to Christ Himself,” he concludes.

Through his journey, we are reminded of the transformative power of faith that seeks understanding, the importance of living the truths we discover, and the profound impact of sharing those truths with the world. His life is a living embodiment of the Dominican mission, illuminating the path to Christ in a world in desperate need of truth.

If reading Father Pickett’s story inspires you to support our mission to share refined knowledge of Christ with the world, please click here to support the Dominican House of Studies.

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