2008 Woodie Awards
One-on-One with Erik Mertens
Marie Burbank
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: Faith
Witness: When did you graduate from Gonzaga?
Erik: 2005.
Witness: What did you major in?
Erik: Applied Communications with a minor in Religious Studies.
Witness: Why?
Erik: I LOVE PEOPLE! And I wanted to really learn about relationships and how to unite and connect people - that's what the classes in the field of Communications is all about. I thought that as long as I had this blessed opportunity of education at Gonzaga, I might as well get an education in something that made my heart beat faster.
Witness: What made you want to go to Gonzaga?
Erik: I've known I wanted to go to Gonzaga ever since I was in the fifth grade. All of my extended family live in Spokane, and in fifth grade my grandparents drove me by Gonzaga University. I was like, "What IS this place?" And my grandparents told me. Ever since then, it seemed kind of like an amazing, magical place. Then in high school, I knew that I wanted to go to college in eastern Washington (I'm from the Tri-Cities) and I wanted to go to a private, Christian school…preferably Catholic.
Witness: Were you raised Catholic?
Erik: Uh-huh! By two amazing parents and a healthy nun-run education at St. Joe's in Kennewick, Wash.
Witness: If you had to choose one way that your faith has impacted your life, what would it be?
Erik: Hmmm. Good question! Well, I think if I HAD to choose just one way, it would be that my faith has taught me that EVERY SINGLY PERSON is loved and is a precious, precious child of God. If God loves people with no conditions for skin color, religious belief, sexual orientation or educational status, then that's the way that I should love. My goal is to love everyone with the love of God. That's what I try to base my life on - of course I fall short every day, but I need to keep trying. God even loves the terrorists!
Witness: What do you love most about being Catholic?
Erik: Man, I love this Church! The beautiful expression of humanity striving for divinity that reaches through the ages just makes me feel at home. I am thrilled with the idea that my faith is inspired so closely with the faith of those who actually ate and walked with Jesus. I love the communion of saints and knowing that in the end, everything is going to be okay. I LOVE the hope that my Catholic faith gives me. And more than anything, that hope has been shown to me through my personal experience of the LOVE in the Eucharist.
Erik: 2005.
Witness: What did you major in?
Erik: Applied Communications with a minor in Religious Studies.
Witness: Why?
Erik: I LOVE PEOPLE! And I wanted to really learn about relationships and how to unite and connect people - that's what the classes in the field of Communications is all about. I thought that as long as I had this blessed opportunity of education at Gonzaga, I might as well get an education in something that made my heart beat faster.
Witness: What made you want to go to Gonzaga?
Erik: I've known I wanted to go to Gonzaga ever since I was in the fifth grade. All of my extended family live in Spokane, and in fifth grade my grandparents drove me by Gonzaga University. I was like, "What IS this place?" And my grandparents told me. Ever since then, it seemed kind of like an amazing, magical place. Then in high school, I knew that I wanted to go to college in eastern Washington (I'm from the Tri-Cities) and I wanted to go to a private, Christian school…preferably Catholic.
Witness: Were you raised Catholic?
Erik: Uh-huh! By two amazing parents and a healthy nun-run education at St. Joe's in Kennewick, Wash.
Witness: If you had to choose one way that your faith has impacted your life, what would it be?
Erik: Hmmm. Good question! Well, I think if I HAD to choose just one way, it would be that my faith has taught me that EVERY SINGLY PERSON is loved and is a precious, precious child of God. If God loves people with no conditions for skin color, religious belief, sexual orientation or educational status, then that's the way that I should love. My goal is to love everyone with the love of God. That's what I try to base my life on - of course I fall short every day, but I need to keep trying. God even loves the terrorists!
Witness: What do you love most about being Catholic?
Erik: Man, I love this Church! The beautiful expression of humanity striving for divinity that reaches through the ages just makes me feel at home. I am thrilled with the idea that my faith is inspired so closely with the faith of those who actually ate and walked with Jesus. I love the communion of saints and knowing that in the end, everything is going to be okay. I LOVE the hope that my Catholic faith gives me. And more than anything, that hope has been shown to me through my personal experience of the LOVE in the Eucharist.
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