John Gillmeister is a third year seminarian attending Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity school in Rochester, NY. John’s spiritual journey begins as a child being brought up by his mother and father with the help of his maternal grandmother, who instilled in him a deep love of the Lord and a passion for loving people. After graduating from Oneida high school, John initially attended Alfred University, where he played football and was a part of their BAFA fine arts program. Halfway through his junior year, John felt “the road” calling to him and toured in a band extensively throughout the United States. John and his friends jumped in a 15 passenger van and played punk rock music from Massachusetts to California and back. When the band he played in broke up, John returned to school and graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in Art History.

Feeling unsure whether he should pursue a career as a teacher or go in a different direction, John’s aunt Alice encouraged him to get a job working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a field that was constantly underserved and required patience and compassion. John decided to follow his aunt’s advice while he planned his next move. This decision catapulted John into his career in human services. Over the past twelve years John has worked as a Direct support professional, Employment specialist, a Residential Program manager, and now as a Care manager, helping individuals and families navigate their services and supports by identifying providers and healthcare services that enrich lives and promote independence through the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

In 2018, John discerned a call from the Holy Spirit to pursue discernment for the priesthood. John felt ill-equipped, unqualified and resisted this call as long as he could. Only relenting when he says “God ran me down and I was just too tired to run anymore.” John has progressed through the discernment process and is a Postulant for Holy Orders, seeking Ordination to the priesthood. John currently holds a 3.98 GPA at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and has received his Level 1A Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate. John’s passion for ministry focuses on the immeasurable grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love God offers to all people through his Son Jesus Christ. That no one is excluded from that unfathomable love. A calling for all God’s children to embrace that love and responsibility to share it with everyone we meet, both inside the church walls and out in the community so the Holy Spirit can work through us in our everyday lives.