Br. Jacob Mazur-Batistoni, O.P.
Class Year: 2020
Majors: Religious Studies and Classical Studies
Hometown: Lapeer, Michigan
Order: Dominican Friars of Province of Albert the Great
Describe your faith life when you arrived at Hope College. How did it grow or change during college?
My faith was beginning to deepen as I arrived at Hope. I had the beginnings of a sense of call to the priesthood before I arrived, yet I was not wholly committed to the Catholic faith. I loved Jesus and wanted to live my faith, but it was limited. My deeper commitment to Catholicism coincided with beginning to discern a vocation. Through Exodus 90, daily sacraments, studying theology with Dr. Ortiz, and leading prayer groups, my faith deepened tremendously and the Dominican Order became the most attractive religious order to join.
When did you begin to feel the call to the priesthood and religious life? Did your vocation appeal to you immediately, or did you need time to accept the call?
It took me about 1.5 years to actually begin discernment after the first sense of call. When I was a sophomore I had a powerful experience at the Encounter Conference that opened me up to a vocation to religious life and priesthood. This led me to seek out Fr. Nick for further guidance in spiritual direction, and I decided during my senior year to apply to the Dominicans.
Tell us about your order. How did you find the order? What about the order’s charism appealed (appeals) to you?
The Dominicans were founded 800 years ago by St. Dominic in order to preach the Gospel to heretics called Albigensians. Since then, the mission of the Dominicans is to preach the Gospel for the salvation of souls. Dominicans take the contemplation of truth as a core aspect of their missions, such that their mission is summed up as sharing the fruits of their contemplation. I was inspired by the mission of the Dominicans when I went on a Come and See (which Fr. Nick Monco invited me to go). This inspiration has remained over the years and has matured. I have now professed my solemn vows, meaning that I am a Dominican friar until I die. Solemn vows also means that I am preparing and petitioning for diaconate ordination in the coming year.
What does your daily life look like? Your prayer? Your community? Your apostolate? Your formation?
My day begins with Morning Prayer and Mass at 7:00 a.m. Then during the day I study, go to class, finish other tasks around the house, and run errands. Then Office of Readings and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m., followed by recreation with the brothers and a communal meal. Night prayer begins at 8:45 p.m. I often find blocks of time before and after commitments best for personal prayer (the half hour before and after Morning Prayer and Mass for example). My apostolate includes teaching and youth ministry at a local parish. Formation comes in the form of conferences, one on one meetings with formators, and day to day living with the brothers. Our community life provides an opportunity to build relationships with the brothers and to be challenged to grow in all areas: human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral. The fondest memories I have of Dominican life so far come from communal celebrations and outings and moments of preaching the Gospel.
Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with the Hope College/SBI community?
Cling to God and trust His perfection, not your own. Learn how to be a good friend through friendship with Christ. Seek to acquire the Holy Spirit.
Br. Jacob with Hope Catholic alumni in 2026. This picture was taking after the celebration of his final vows.
