If you follow @PaulistVocation on social media, then you’re familiar with the question we’ve been posting since the beginning of Lent: Where is Fr. Ed today?

Fr. Ed Nowak, C.S.P., Paulist Fathers director of vocations, is on the road this Lent as a guest preacher at different parishes and Paulist Foundations.

His first stop was in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he spent time at Saint John XXIII Parish and Catholic Center. The parish was started in 1930 as the Newman Club of Immaculate Conception Parish. The Catholic Center was established in 1963, then it became canonical parish of John XXIII with Chapel of St. Jude in 1968. The present building was constructed in 1969. The parish was then placed in the charge of the Paulist Fathers in 1973.

On his way to Frisco, Texas, Fr. Ed made two stops to spend time with fellow Paulists: St. Austin Catholic Parish in the capital of Texas and St. Paul the Apostle Church in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

While visiting Austin, Fr. Ed spent time with Paulist Novice Andrew Ouma, who joined the Paulist Fathers novitiate in October 2023 and will be at St. Austin throughout Lent as part of his formation. Fr. Ed took Andrew on a walk through the trails of Zilker Park, near Austin’s famous Barton Springs.

Fr. Ed then made roughly an hour’s drive through the hill country to visit Fr. Ruben Patiño, C.S.P., pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Horseshoe Bay.

After these visits, it was on to preach at the Lent parish mission at St. Francis of Assisi in Frisco. Fellow Paulist Fr. Bruce Nieli, C.S.P., joined him there.

If you know Fr. Ed, then you know his dedication to model trains. While in Frisco, he visited a railroad monument titled, “Frisco’s First.”

Next stop: the West Coast. But first, Fr. Ed made a stop at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona. Looks like he went to the desert, as we're all called to do spiritually during Lent.

Once in California, Fr. Ed concelebrated Laetare Sunday Mass with fellow Paulist Fr. Bart Landry, C.S.P., pastor at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in San Diego. Rejoice!

As of this blog post, Fr. Ed continues his work in California - all while enjoying the beautiful weather and taking hikes and bike rides along the many beaches and parks in the Santa Barbara area.

The missionary life of a Paulist priest can be one of constant travel, encountering the faithful along the way, and preaching following the example of Servant of God Fr. Isaac Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers.

If you’re interested in learning more about a Paulist Fathers vocation, start a conversation with Fr. Ed, or know someone who would make a great Paulist priest, please contact Fr. Ed at vocations@paulist.org or at (917) 763-7899.