Note: Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain eight men to the priesthood June 24 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. New profiles of the other new priests will be added to the Catholic Review site daily from June 15 to June 22. Click here to read them.
When Deacon Luke Koski began studying psychology at Towson University, he thought for sure he was on track to become a clinical therapist. His plans took a major turn in his sophomore year, however, when a friend invited him to join a small group of men who gathered at Immaculate Conception in Towson for special daily morning Masses.
Father Michael DeAscanis, then the vocations director for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, celebrated the liturgies, which were followed by breakfast at a nearby bagel shop.
“They were all guys open to the priesthood,” remembered Deacon Koski, who would later add philosophy to psychology as a double major. “We would talk about priesthood, philosophy and theology. After a few weeks, I was just so surprised at how much my heart desired (holiness). I was burning with love for the priesthood and for the sacraments.”
After informing his girlfriend he felt a need to explore a religious vocation, he spent the next nine months reading books, talking to priests, going on retreats, praying, going to eucharistic adoration and saying the rosary.
Earlier, at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Deacon Koski had participated in a pilgrimage to Spain and had also attended World Youth Day in Brazil – experiences that helped him be open to religious life.
Despite his attraction to the priesthood, Deacon Koski began dating once again after devoting nearly a year to discernment. He remained torn between the good of married life and the good of priesthood, he said.
Finally, during a March 2016 mission trip to Nicaragua, he prayed to Christ in adoration, asking if he was called to the priesthood.
“I heard in prayer really clearly – interiorly – the Lord say, ‘Luke, I love you and I’m proud of you,’” Deacon Koski recalled. “‘If you decide to get married and have a wife and kids, I will love you and I’ll be proud of you. You’ll lead your family to heaven and lots of souls to heaven, but I’m calling you to the priesthood.’”
A few months later, Deacon Koski entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. He is set to be ordained to the priesthood in June.
Deacon Koski, the eldest of four siblings, grew up in several parishes. He was baptized at St. Thomas More in Baltimore, received his first Communion at St. Joseph in Fullerton and was confirmed at St. Isaac Jogues in Carney.
In his youth, he and his siblings volunteered at a summer camp started by their parents for children with autism. The 29-year-old future priest has also been studying American Sign Language.
His pastoral assignments at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crofton; Holy Family, Randallstown; Our Lady of Grace, Parkton; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City; Christ the King, Glen Burnie; St. John, Frederick, and St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor in Buckeystown have helped prepare him for a parish ministry.
Deacon Koski said he is most looking forward to being able to offer the sacrament of reconciliation after his ordination.
“I think being an instrument of God’s mercy will be really powerful,” he said. “I know it has been really powerful in my life – and life-changing.”
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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