Waco son, Deacon Kyle Nesrsta, prepares to become a diocesan priest

By Mary P. Walker | Senior Correspondent

As he pursues the call to the priesthood, Deacon Kyle Nesrsta, 32, is following the example of his uncle, Father Stephen Nesrsta, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Corn Hill.
The son of Edward and Julie Nesrsta, Deacon Nesrsta has one older brother and one younger sister. Baptized at St. Louis Parish in Waco, he grew up in Hewitt and considers St. Jerome in Hewitt/Waco his home parish.
Deacon Nesrsta believes he first heard God calling him to the priesthood after his confirmation. Becoming more active in the parish, he joined the youth group, and became a lector and an extraordinary minister of holy Communion.
Parishioners noticed his work in the parish and asked him if he had ever considered becoming a priest. Then pastor, Father Rakshaganathan Selvaraj (Father Raj), encouraged him to attend a discernment retreat. Although he attended, Deacon Nesrsta was focused on studying music.
After high school graduation, Deacon Nesrsta attended McLennan Community College and then the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was active in campus ministry. Majoring in music, he played the saxophone. He also learned to play the euphonium, which enabled him to join the San Antonio-based Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. As a corps member, he traveled all over the country during the summers of 2008 and 2009.
After college, he moved back home and took a job in a warehouse for a company servicing vending machines. He got a job at ESPN Central Texas where he worked a split shift, which turned out to be good for his discernment. He could go into church to pray as soon as it opened and had time in between to read the books that his uncle, Father Nesrsta, gave him.
Although he was attracted to the priesthood, he also wanted to be a husband and father and did not want to leave his own family behind to serve God’s people. Through his reading and prayer, his perspective changed. He became more open to God’s call in his life.
“Over time, it got to be less about what I wanted, and more about what God wanted, which turned out to be the same,” Deacon Nesrsta said.
His discernment also benefitted from observing his uncle’s priestly ministry and his participation in family events. Through Father Nesrsta, he saw that priests come from and are “real people.” Now he talks to his uncle more than ever and feels blessed to join him in ministry through the sacrament of holy orders.
In addition to his family, uncle and Father Raj, Deacon Nesrsta is grateful for the help he received from now Bishop Michael Sis, former diocesan vocation director.
He began seminary life at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, Louisiana, which he credits with “bringing him out of his shell.” The seminary gave him the academic background, spirituality and confidence to proceed, he said.
The challenges of seminary life included the study of philosophy and adjusting to community life, which brought with it  the blessings of praying the Divine Office and attending Mass together.
“I fell in love with the rule of St. Benedict,” he said.  
As a priest, Deacon Nesrsta looks forward to celebrating Mass and bringing the sacraments to the faithful. His advice to those considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life is to pray, especially in front of the tabernacle or through Eucharistic Adoration. He also encourages them to be open to others about their discernment and to receive spiritual direction.
He will celebrate Masses of thanksgiving June 28 at 11 a.m. at St. Jerome Parish in Waco (Hewitt), June 29 at 8 a.m. at St. Louis Parish in Waco and July 1 at noon at St. Peter Catholic Student Center in Waco.