Storm Lake man accepted as seminarian

NOTE: Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations for the Diocese of Sioux City, recently announced three young men will begin seminary studies this summer for the diocese: Avery Fetrow of Storm Lake, Joseph Masching of Carroll and William Kahle of Algona. This is the first in a three-part series to highlight each of the seminarians.

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

As a young boy the thought of becoming a priest when he grew up was definitely on Avery Fetrow’s mind.

“The earliest I remember thinking about the priesthood was when I was 5 or 6,” said the 2024 graduate of St. Mary High School in Storm Lake and member of his parish Knights of Columbus. “That is all I wanted to be from age 6 to 12.”

Fetrow is the son of Mike and Jill Fetrow of Storm Lake. He has two younger sisters, Jessa, 16 and Lily, 12, who are both students at St. Mary’s. The seminarian is also the great-great-nephew of Father Gene Murray and the late Father Ed Murray.

As he moved into junior and senior high school, the idea of a priestly vocation came and went. Although “subconsciously” the priesthood was always with him, during his senior year of high school Fetrow was set to double major in jewelry repair and design having been accepted to the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California.

“That’s what I was going to do. I was ready to go until the second semester of my senior year when everything aligned,” he said. “I was like, no, actually I need to go to seminary. I have to go.”

FetrowIt was during Holy Week of 2024 when he went to his pastor, Father Brent Lingle of Storm Lake St. Mary’s who connected the young man with Father Travis Crotty, vocations director.

At the time he decided to apply for the seminary, Fetrow mentioned the application deadline had passed so Father Crotty encouraged him to attend college for a year. With that in mind, he took some general studies last year at the University of Northern Iowa.

It’s not that the 19-year-old seminarian felt he needed another year to discern his call because he knew “that I needed to go to the seminary. I was 100%, but it was a great year to make a lot of friendships and connections,” said Fetrow.

Reflecting back on his discernment during senior year of high school, the new seminarian knows that thoughts of a priestly vocation had never completely left him.

“I was seeing it in other people and telling them to think about being a priest. There’s a book called To Save a Thousand Souls, which is a classic seminarian book and I told one of my friends to read it. I needed to read that book,” he quipped. “All of those things I was thinking, I was telling other people because I had been closed off to the idea but eventually, one day it was like I can’t take it anymore I have to talk to someone.”

Looking back, he recalls various examples of being called to the priesthood.

For instance, it was as a young server in the third grade when he had an exceptional experience during Mass.

“The Holy Spirit washed over me,” he recalled, noting that it was as if time froze and all his focus was on the chalice as if God was pointing him to the Eucharist and the priesthood. “It was a profound encounter.”

Aside from the crucial point of feeling God calling him to the priesthood, for Fetrow a big draw for him is the service component of this vocation.

“How I love people is through service,” he said. “I love to cook for people or serve them in some way, it’s how I show them I love them. I think the priesthood is a wonderful demonstration of showing people you love them through service – giving your life to the church and serving the church out of love for the church.”

The opportunity to participate in the sacramental ministry is also a big attraction.

He has also had the example of several good priests and pastors who provided the witness of a happy vocation and a balanced life complete with hobbies and friendships.

“They are all pretty genuinely happy guys but when you are giving your life to something greater than yourself and you can see the fruits of it, it can be very rewarding,” said Fetrow.
Even though this is a time when there can be many challenges due to lack of priest numbers, he said he is not too worried about the difficulties.

“I think it will be manageable. Trusting in God’s plan, there is not a whole lot to be worried about,” stressed the seminarian.

Avery Fetrow assisting at the Vacation Bible School at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

One of the greatest blessings of his Catholic school education – aside from the small numbers that allowed him to participate in many activities from sports to speech – was the opportunity to be around priests more frequently.

Fetrow pointed out that his parents, who always ensured the family attended weekly Mass, have been supportive of his decision to enter the seminary.

“They are very excited,” said Fetrow, who noted that their biggest struggle is that he has been doing summer assignments helping with Vacation Bible School programs and has not been home much. “They know I am excited and this is what I want to do.”

By mid-July he will be off to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota where he will begin the propaedeutic year. This stage is a preliminary year that focuses on human and spiritual growth in preparation for discipleship and configuration stages.

“I really look forward to getting to know the guys, especially from the Diocese of Sioux City,” he said. “There will be seven of us there from the diocese – a lot of guys.”

HOME