Parish Welcomes New Parochial Vicar Fr. Zachary Samples

Early on at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, Fr. Zachary Samples was told by a priest that there would come a time in his journey to the priesthood where no other vocation made sense. After six years in formation at the seminary, Fr. Zach had no doubts about his vocational call. He was ordained on May 28, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, and celebrated his first Mass on May 29. Fr. Zach will serve as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter and Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame.

“To say that I am excited would be an understatement,” Fr. Zach says. “Many thanks to Msgr. Enlow for taking me on. I am grateful to learn from him and work alongside him as I transition to the priesthood.”

After so many years of studying and being in school, from preschool to the seminary, Fr. Zach is truly ready to live his calling.

“I am so ready to begin service in our church,” he says. “I look forward to celebrating Mass and the sacraments and serving those I am called to serve.”

When Fr. Zach was growing up in Mt. Zion, there was no youth ministry, and he didn’t have a solid outlet to learn more about the Catholic faith.

“I decided to start teaching fourth-grade religion at our Parish School of Religion,” he says. “I felt I came to know my faith at that age level.”

When Fr. Zach started at Eastern Illinois University, he quickly became involved at the Newman Catholic Center.

“I got involved because I wanted my faith to be a big part of my life,” he says. “It was at the Newman Catholic Center where my faith really came alive.”

The first Sunday that Fr. Zach was at the Newman Catholic Center, then-Chaplain Fr. John Titus asked him if he had considered the priesthood. He remembered back in fourth grade when a priest asked him that same question while serving at the altar.

“Through many Newman Center activities and mission trips, the faith really came alive,” he says. “This seed planted as a fourth-grader finally started to grow.”

Fr. Zach learned at the Newman Center that the Lord had a path for him.

“People ask kids, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” Fr. Zach says. “When that’s the only question, it makes you think about what you want to do, but there’s more to the story. It’s also about what God wants you to do. Instead, we should ask that question, ‘What does God want me to do?’”

As a new priest, Fr. Zach most enjoys celebrating the sacraments. He feels blessed to minister the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to celebrate the Mass.

“I am ready to be part of people’s lives as a priest and to accompany people on their journeys of faith,” he says. “I am ready to be there for the joys and struggles of the lives of those I am called to serve.”

He also looks forward to serving as Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame. This work is near and dear to him since he never had the opportunity for this support as a young man. And his years in college were so formative.

“I can’t wait to help be a conduit to bring the faith to them in a way that hasn’t been brought to them before,” Fr. Zach says. “I want them to know they are infinitely loved by Christ. He wants to walk with them.”

Fr. Zach looks forward to starting his priesthood here and learning from Fr. Leo.

“I look forward also to learning from the staff and those in the pews as we work together to bring about the kingdom of God,” Fr. Zach says.

In his free time, Fr. Zach likes to travel, cook, watch movies, spend time with friends and family, take walks, and be outdoors.

Fr. Zachary Samples will serve as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter and Co-Chaplain at Quincy Notre Dame.

Fr. Zachary Samples was ordained on May 28, 2022.