Fr. Gary Kaiser selected as spiritual director for FrassatiUSA pilgrimage!

January 7, 2008

For Father Gary Kaiser, the paths leading to the discovery of a future saint and the call to the priesthood intersected about 10 years ago. After relocating to the Indianapolis area and seeking friends with similar interests and background, Gary Kaiser helped start a young adult group in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis with the help of three friends. The Catholic Young Adult Network or C.Y.A.N. began meeting monthly to discuss Church teachings, socialize and pray together. During one such gathering, someone gave the group a flyer on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Kaiser was captivated by the life story of Frassati and wanted to learn more. A few months after the first encounter, Kaiser was invited to join another young adult group, the Frassati Society of the Lafayette diocese. Kaiser said, “The Frassati Society reminded me of Frassati the man. The members were serious about their Catholic Faith and they were serious about living life to its fullest and having fun along the way.”

During the Jubilee Year of 2000, Kaiser turned 30. At a crossroad in his life, he decided to join a group of the Frassati Society on a pilgrimage to Italy . “The trip was life changing not only for me but for several others,” said Kaiser. Several young men discerned going into seminary, one young lady discerned joining a convent and a single mom discerned a calling to open a home for unwed mothers.” While on that trip, Kaiser traveled to the Frassati home, prayed at his tomb in the Cathedral of Turin and met his niece, Wanda Gawronska.

Following the footsteps of this rugged, renaissance, charitable and holy man, Kaiser desired to learn more and began reading books written by Frassati’s sister. “Inspired and encouraged by the story of Frassati’s life, I decided to enter seminary. I followed his example of deepening my understanding and love for the Eucharist, a devotion I continue to cultivate and practice today.” While in seminary, Kaiser suffered two ruptured discs in his neck. Recovering from surgery, Kaiser awoke to see a relic of Frassati before him. Once again his friend was beside him, encouraging Kaiser at another crossroad.

In 2005, Kaiser traveled to Italy with a class from Saint Meinrad School of Theology. On that trip, Kaiser was determined to again meet Blessed Pier Giorgio’s niece Wanda. He wanted to learn all he could about his heavenly friend. The meeting was similar to two old friends reuniting. They had a mutual friend that brought them together: her uncle and his role model. They shared stories, looked at photos and books about Pier Giorgio Frassati. Then Wanda invited Kaiser to meet her mother -- Pier Giorgio’s sister Luciana who was then 103 years old.

“I will never forget how nervous I was when I met Luciana. Suddenly I looked up and saw the crucifix that Blessed Pier Giorgio gave Luciana on her wedding day, and then I was comforted. I realized on a deeper level the communion of saints, those both living and dead; the Church teaching was revealed in a new way for me.” These encounters impacted Kaiser and his love for the Church, “A saint was no longer a statue or a picture of someone that I could not relate to. Frassati had become my friend and my role model.”

During his ordination to the Priesthood on June 3, 2006, Fr. Kaiser carried a relic of Frassati. “All my family and friends were there and when I lay prostrate on the floor and heard ‘Blessed Pier Giorgio…. Pray for us,’ I knew all of my family and friends were present and praying as I became a servant of God’s altar.”

Shortly after Fr. Kaiser arrived at his assignment, there was an estate auction down the street. Surveying the items, he noticed a book on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Contacting the Frassati office in Rome , he talked with Christine Wohar, founder of FrassatiUSA and learned that the book was one which Frassati’s niece had been searching for. Fr. Kaiser quickly mailed her the copy as a birthday gift.

Later that year, Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger asked Fr. Kaiser to serve as Chaplain for a Youth and Young Adult group. The group is a lay movement that has a Eucharistic focus and is called Source and Summit . “I could not believe it. It was my dream and my prayer that I could help others deepen their faith, their love for the Eucharist and for the Church like my friend Frassati had for me,” Kaiser said.

In the 10 years that have passed since Fr. Kaiser first learned of Frassati, the adventure has now come full circle. Kaiser has been chosen as the spiritual director for the first official pilgrimage sponsored by FrassatiUSA. Now he is inviting others to join him and FrassatiUSA in traveling to Italy to meander the streets and mountains that Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati walked and to pray in the churches where Pier Giorgio prayed.

“I am so excited to share with others this opportunity to learn more about this holy man, and to literally follow in his footsteps.” The pilgrimage is May 12th through the 22nd of 2008, and will include stops in Rome , Siena , Pisa , Florence , Genoa , Turin , Oropa and more.

Fr. Gary Kaiser attended Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana and was ordained a priest in June of 2006. He is serving as the associate pastor for Sts. Peter and Paul in Haubstadt, Holy Cross in Fort Branch and St. Bernard in Snake Run, IN.