Fr. Nicholas Waddell is a newly ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Before entering seminary, Fr. Nicholas studied politics at the University of Mary and served as a Fellow in Cohort 6 as a math teacher for 6th grade and an El Camino catechist for 7th grade boys.
Why did you become a Fellow?
Coming out of college, I wanted to be involved in politics and education. When I heard about STF, I knew it’d be an amazing opportunity to get experience in the classroom while also growing in my faith. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought living in New York City for a year would be fun and challenging. I didn’t know I would find my vocation as a Fellow.
How did your experience in a men’s community impact you?
If I’m being honest, it was hard at first. All five of us guys living in Kolbe House (the name we decided for our community) were quite different. It took us awhile to learn to live with each other and embrace life in community. We had to be very raw and honest with each other, which was tough. I am grateful, though, that we had to step up and speak about real issues. It was very helpful while in seminary to have this experience, and as a priest, I’m not as afraid of confrontation as I once was. Truth is a healing balm even if it means you have to take off a scab.
How did STF form you— in your discernment and in preparation for seminary and the priesthood?
I came to STF unsure of what I’d afterwards. I was open to a lot of things and at that time, I expected to get married. One day in October, while praying a rosary on my way to school, it dawned on me that I’d be happy as a priest. I had thought about the priesthood before, but celibacy had scared me. For some reason I had total peace; the thought of becoming a priest was exciting, almost thrilling. There was no fear. Really, from that moment on, I knew I had a vocation. I went through the interview process over spring break, and the rest of the time as a Fellow allowed the call to deepen and develop.
How does your experience teaching as a Fellow in the Bronx continue to impact your ministry as a priest?
There’s a lot that is asked of a fellow. Community life, prayer, and work all form different spheres of responsibility. While I don’t think I was very successful at balancing them as a Fellow, the experience of trying to balance them was super helpful. Both as a seminarian and as a priest, there’s a lot that happens each and every day. The flexibility and openness that I cultivated as a Fellow naturally prepared me for the seminary and priesthood.
I also grew much more comfortable being in the world as an adult. While there was structure, I had a lot of freedom, which I think was a healthy preparation for the freedom that I have as a priest. Freedom is a great gift, but without formation it can be a burden as well. While not perfect, I think I was formed into freedom during my year as a fellow.
What are some favorite memories from your Fellow year?
There are so many to choose from! I think the one that sticks with me the most was the time I taught my 7th grade class Plato’s allegory of the cave. At the heart of the allegory is an exhortation to see reality in a deeper way, to cultivate a fierce allegiance to the invisible world. I wanted to have a phrase or mantra I could repeat over the year, so I chose, “Exit the cave!”
A couple weeks later, and after shouting with great gusto, “Exit the cave!”, one of my students raised his hand. I called on him and he said something I still think about often. He said, “Mr. Waddell, I exited the cave when I was baptized.” I was stunned! What profoundly wise words! A couple hundred years of debate in the Church concerning the relationship between Greek philosophy and Christian theology in one sentence. It still makes me smile thinking of that moment.
