Jesse Burish Fourth Year Theologian

Pontifical North American College 00120 Vatican City State, Europe   Mail be also sent with a single US first-class stamp to: Jesse Burish, 2nd Lt. PSC 59 Box 47 APO AE 09624

Jesse Burish was born October 4, 1981 in Wausau, Wisconsin to David and Marie Burish.  He was baptized at Saint Mary's in Marathon but calls St. Matthew's in Wausau his home parish. 

He attended Holy Name of Jesus Grade School and St. Matthew's Middle School (both of Wausau).  After graduating in 2000 from Newman High School (Wausau), Jesse attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years studying architecture before entering college seminary.  Jesse attended Saint John Vianney College Seminary (Saint Paul), graduating in 2005 with a degree in philosophy and minor studies in art history.

Jesse is currently a fourth year theologian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome where he will graduate in 2009 with a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) as well as a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.).

During the summer of 2005, Jesse spent time at Sacred Heart and Saint Patrick's in Eau Claire.  Jesse was also the Boy Scout Chaplain in 2003 at Camp Tesomas.  In 2006, Jesse entered candidacy as a U.S. Air Force Chaplain.

Jesse's ecclesiastical interests include sacred architecture, Church history, moral theology, and Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Jesse's secular interests include running, traveling, skiing, swimming, architecture, and architectural history.

Jesse's favorite books include those by Hilaire Belloc and St. Augustine's Confessions.  Jesse enjoys the music of Bach and that from the 1970s and 1980s.  While Jesse is not picky when it comes to food, he enjoys Italian pasta and Wisconsin brats ("just not together," he says).  Jesse's favorite saints include Mary, St. Joseph, St. John Vianney, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

When asked why he entered the seminary, Jesse states, "I sensed in my personal prayer and [in] words from others that I might be called to [the] priesthood."  Jesse states that people ought to pray for vocations because "God has not been calling fewer men to the priesthood—only fewer men have accepted the grace to respond to it—pray because the need is urgent."  Finally, Jesse states that men should consider the priesthood, for "the only way one can be happy or fulfilled is to do God's will for their life."