From Kansas to the Emerald Isle

The Dublin Chapter’s Fr. Aaron Vinduzka hails from small-town Kansas . . .

Fr. Aaron Vinduska

Fr. Aaron Vinduzka, LC
Dublin Chapter

Hailing from a small town in Kansas north of Wichita, Fr. Aaron Vinduska’s blood does not run green, but now he calls the Emerald Isle home. Again. He spent two years in novitiate there before taking a “worldwide tour” along the priestly path, having spent time in Spain, Italy, then back in the States and Canada. In addition to serving as Legatus chaplain, he is director of Dublin’s Faith and Family Centre, which provides retreats, formation courses, and youth activities directed toward leavening Irish society one soul at a time.

Tell us about your call to the priesthood.

When I was 14, a good friend invited me to join him on a week-long Easter retreat at Immaculate Conception Apostolic School, run by the Legionaries of Christ in New Hampshire. Long story short, I’m the one who ended up going, and now I’m a happy priest and he’s a happily married man back in Kansas.

My vocation was nurtured by a very strong family life. My parents were very loving and supportive of my decision to enter the priesthood. My sister and brother, too. Both of them are older than me. I’m 34.

How did you become acquainted with Legatus?

When I was in San Jose, Calif., a fellow priest introduced me to the mission and ideals behind Legatus. It has a lot of similarities with our own spirituality — namely, that we’re given gifts and talents and we’re going to be held accountable for how we’ve used them. And one of those gifts is our faith and how we pass it along to future generations. That perked my interest in Legatus.

Was there a Dublin chaplain before you?

When I returned to Ireland last July, I followed in the footsteps of Fr. Michael Mullen, who returned to the States to continue his studies in theology. I’ve been on the job since last September.

What impact has Legatus had on the Dublin archdiocese?

The men and women involved have a great desire to do positive things for the archdiocese and the whole country. Many are very active in important initiatives, especially in the areas of pro-life and supporting marriage and the family.

How would you like to see the chapter progress?

We typically have 20 to 30 people coming to chapter events. My hope is that numbers continue to grow. But the most important kind of growth isn’t quantitative. It’s the degree to which each member realizes and brings to fruition his own call to holiness. And there’s a big problem in Irish society regarding a lack of trust in the Church and the credibility of her message. We have to build up that trust once again.

My mission with the chapter is to encourage members in their spiritual lives and support them in any way I can: if there’s a death in the family, for example. And I want to invite more people for membership among those I know.

You have a vocation, of course. Any avocations?

I strive to foster a love for scripture. And I very much love Chesterton and Tolkien, who teach us that life is an adventure, a love story between us and God. That informs my preaching, too.

Can you recommend any particular devotions?

Eucharistic adoration. If we’re called to be like Christ, we need to be with him.

Do you have any advice for business leaders?

Never lose your identity. Knowing that we’re created by God gives us clarity about who we are and informs the choices we make. Will those choices bring me and those around me closer to Christ? That clarity is fundamental. Simple, but fundamental.

MATTHEW A. RAREY is Legatus magazine’s editorial assistant.