Jacek Buda is from Poland and currently a Catholic priest at the Newman Center, campus ministry. He started his religious life before the communist government fall in Poland. He describes his life as “searching God in a life exceeding my expectation.”

Question1: What made you to choose to be a priest? It must be difficult especially Poland was under the communist government.

Jacek Buda: It’s complicated. There was an internal search. I was looking for something greater purpose of life. And I realized that becoming a part of religious group would give me the answer for my searching. For external part, I met many Dominican priests, who gave me great lectures and ideas. For me, joining Dominican Order was freedom. It was freedom to choose what I want to be.

Question2: Do you think your life as today is something you wanted?

J: Absolutely. I think my life exceeded my expectation. I never thought that I would be able to work with campus ministry. It’s not just being able to do what I want. My life as it is today is I could practice my religion without any interfere.

Question3: What do you seek in your dream life?

J: I would say I am searching for true meaning of life and being a Catholic priest is the good way to pursue a life of God.