Know Your Neighbor: Timothy Davis
Seminarian Timothy Davis is enjoying his current assignment in Taos: nine months of parish work in preparation for life as a priest.
“I couldn’t have a better assignment. In my opinion, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos is one of the best pastoral assignments within the archdiocese,” said Davis during a recent interview.
In the past, the Archbishop of Santa Fe assigned seminarians to parish sites for practical experiences during summer breaks from school. Recently, the activity changed from summer season participation to a complete academic year near the end of their preparation.
At the end of the seminarian’s training, he will travel to another parish for the summer of 2019. Davis’ Taos assignment began Sept. 4 and ends May 5, 2019.
Davis was born in Chicago and grew up in Milledgeville, a small town 10 miles west of the city, not far from Wisconsin to the north or the Mississippi River to the west. The nearest neighbor was a half-mile away.
The land in the area yielded corn and soybeans, all rotated cops. The Davis family purchased three acres, buildings, a chicken coop, a corn crib, a barn and a machine shed. Their large vegetable garden and chickens provided food for the family.
Davis fed the chickens, gathered the eggs and did other farm chores from second grade to college age. His parents, Debra and Bradley Davis, raised their six children – Nate, Jeff, Delana, Timothy, Zachary and Abigail – on the farm and as Evangelical Christians.
Today, his parents live in St. Petersburg, Florida where Debra teaches French and Spanish in a Catholic school and Bradley works as a systems analyst.
Timothy Davis pursued higher education at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, where he attended from 2007 to 2011. Davis converted to Catholicism and considered the priesthood.
He consulted with the archdiocese vocation director Fr. Michael DePalma and entered the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. “This was the first time I’ve ever been to a seminary,” he said. “It was a powerful growing experience. Everyone there wanted the same thing I did, and I was able to be immersed in the literature of the church. I find the traditions of the (Roman) Catholic Church deeply powerful. I made lifelong friends and look upon my good teachers with gratitude.”
In Spring 2016, Davis took a year away from the seminary to reside at the Carthusian monastery in Vermont, where the brothers and priests take a vow of silence and have little contact with the outside world, with a few exceptions. He said the facility was “the only monastery of its kind in North America.”
Davis spent his days alone, praying in a cell. He left his cell for scheduled prayer in the chapel at midnight and for morning Mass and evening vespers. People spoke to one another once a week.
“It was amazing. I loved it and I found it as the most beautiful life I’ve ever lived,” Davis said. “Then, I was drawn back to the seminary. People may not know this, but the archbishop decides the placements. Just as Archbishop Sheehan sent me to the Josephenium, Archbishop Wester chose Mount Angel (Seminary) in Oregon for my return. I had studied theology at the Josephenium for two years and the third year at Mount Angel. Next September, I’ll complete my fourth and final year of theology. I have also completed my studies in philosophy.
“After this pastoral year and my return to Mount Angel, I’ll receive the transitional deaconate distinction in December and ordination to the priesthood in May or June of 2020,” Davis added. “I’m close to the home stretch.”
After achieving his goal of priesthood, Timothy Davis stated that the archbishop selects the parish for every ordained priest. Davis said while he will go wherever he is assigned, he feels most comfortable in a small rural parish.
At Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Davis works with Father Daniel Gutierrez, Deacons Donald Martinez and Jerry Quintana and those whose work contributes to the parish. He enjoys the parishioners and learning about their lives.
When asked about his duties, Davis had much to say. The seminarian works with the youth group, helps Father Gutierrez with RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and helps with the communion service on Mondays. Davis also helps with baptism classes, trains altar servers and lectors and visits the homebound.
Other duties include assisting for two Masses per weekend and attending finance committee, parish council and mayordomo meetings. He works in the parish office Monday through Thursday for four hours. Part of the office duties include providing marriage, baptism and confirmation certificates and supervising the weekly bulletins. He also prepares the collection bags for weekend services.
Davis loves nature, and in his rare free time he hikes in the mountains and gazes at the stars. His reading tastes include literature, philosophy, theology and the spiritual and mystical traditions of the Catholic church, especially those written by the saints. Other special readings include St. John of the Cross, the desert fathers and the Carmelites. A writer himself, Davis composes short stories and articles on philosophy and theology.
A self-avowed music lover, Davis studied classical piano for 12 years. His favorite selection is Bach’s “Chaconne in D Minor” for violin, which he says encompasses all human emotions in 18 minutes. He loves the art, architecture and music of the church, including sacred Renaissance music and Gregorian chant.
Among the other small facts about this seminarian: • His favorite color is black, which is fitting because as a priest, he’ll wear this color every day of his life. • Sushi is his favorite food. • He feels especially grateful to the individual who loaned him a vehicle for parish work.
Davis summed up his time in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish: “I’m grateful for this training period. It helps me greatly to learn my future role.”