Senior Nick Telerico frantically looked for his red pair of crocs. Under the couch, in the library, in the trash, under the kitchen stove, even in the other Kairos leaders’ rooms. Through it all, Mr. Mike Price grinned guiltily. And so the participants of K117 were introduced to the light-hearted side of Mr. Price.

Nick looks up to Mr. Price for a variety of reasons. “Mr. Price and I bond over the simplest of things like seeing each other at school. There’s something about him that makes it feel like I’m not talking to someone almost double my age. Apart from just seeing each other, anything we talk about has some level of meaning to the conversation.”

Another person whom Mr. Price has impressed is Fr. Paul O’Connor, S.J., who looks forward to encountering him in the halls and having conversations with him. “I’m always inspired by someone who leaves a successful business career, becomes Catholic, and has this conversion that draws him into following a whole new path in life, working at our school and discerning being a Jesuit,” Fr. O’Connor remarked.

Before entering this non-vowed, exploratory year as a Donné with the Society of Jesus, Mr. Price attended Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, and then Holy Cross and the University of Notre Dame for college. He eventually became the chairman and executive of a very successful wholesale gift jewelry company. Mr. Price gave all of this up to be with the Walsh Jesuit community and to discern becoming a Jesuit priest.

He wants to join the Jesuit order for many different reasons, he explained. He wants to be in a community that “focuses on education and being a contemplative in action.” Ignatian spirituality speaks to his heart and mind. He really wants to be part of a community with a presence all over the world and one which will allow him to use his talents, skills and interests for the good of others. AMDG