Catholic since Conception | Fr. John Eckert

In this first episode of two with Fr. John Eckert, a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, who was ordained in 2010 shares with Sr. Joseph Andrew that in pre-school, “This little girl came up said ‘Johnny Eckert, I’m gonna kiss you,’ and I said, ‘No. No, I’m going to be a priest.” Click above to hear the rest of the story!

Sr. Joseph Andrew:  Father, please tell us about your upbringing and how you found your vocation.

Fr. John Eckert: I’m the oldest of four kids. I have wonderful parents and wonderful siblings as well. We’re really blessed. Very close. I think one of the greatest gifts that my folks gave us all four of us kids was they never made us go to Mass they made us want to go to Mass.

I lived a pretty normal college life. But you know, the Faith was still there.  I was in a fraternity, I worked for Anheuser-Busch for three years, I had a girlfriend for about a year.  I mean all sorts of good things but the pull towards the priesthood never went away.

As I got towards the end of college, I made the decision to go in the seminary right out of college.  My mom and dad were super supportive and thanks be to God to my siblings have been great, too.