Diocese of Covington - Messenger at 402 E. 21st Street, Covington, KY 41015 US - God's call can come at any age

“It’s never too late.” Many of us say it, but do we really believe it? Believe it enough to abandon the familiar path we have set before us, a path to which we have devoted time, money and literally our lives, to choose a different path? When someone does have that kind of courage, his story is often inspiring. So it is with Robert Rottgers, seminarian for the Diocese of Covington.

On March 15, Bishop Roger Foys will ordain Mr. Rottgers and three other seminarians to the order of deacon. It is a transitional step for these men who are studying for the priesthood. (Matthew Cushing and Lawrence Schaeper were profiled in last week’s Messenger; Mr. Rottgers and Joshua Lange, in this week’s.)

This is Mr. Rottgers’ sixth continuous year as a seminarian for the diocese. At age 50, he is the diocese’s oldest seminarian. He is also the only widower, father and grandfather. His story is not unfamiliar to the people of the diocese. He has readily shared his conversion story, how he and his wife battled her addiction to prescription drugs, and his experience with end of life issues when faced with her tragic death due to pneumonia. And when God called inviting him to explore the priesthood he heard it and pursued it.

“I would just like to tell older gentlemen that it’s never too late. If you feel God’s calling, whether it’s the diaconate or the priesthood or whatever, to follow the call,” said Mr. Rottgers in a telephone interview Feb. 28.

Mr. Rottgers said that for a 50 year old the most challenging aspect of seminary life was by far the academics. But his life experience and willingness to help people gave him the tools to overcome the challenge.

“Actually, a lot of the younger guys, I help them not to get hung up on the small stuff, the personal stuff, and then they help me with my studying. It’s worked out very well,” he said.

In fact, he said he is “light years” beyond where he was when he first started formation. He said he has also learned much from the pastors he has worked with, Father Richard Wurth, Father Gerald Reinersman and, now, Father Stef Bankemper. Bishop Roger Foys, he said, is an example of a good shepherd. But the people of the diocese are the ones who have “solidified my thoughts and affirmed what I’m doing.”

“Really, my experiences with the people and working with them led to my finding out that this is really my calling,” he said.

“This is actually like my point of no return because the promises of the diaconate are setting my life in motion for the rest of my life. It’s a lifelong commitment to serve the people of God and serve God.”

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