How long did it take you to get where you are today? What role does faith play in your work? How do you balance being a mom with your full-time career? These are just some of the questions our students asked the panels of community members at the inaugural Career Day hosted by the Households team at FGR this year.
This year’s Households theme, Developing Authentic Manhood and Womanhood, ties in nicely with the experience of Career Day, guiding students to discern who they are and who God created them to be. Working together with Director of Alumni Relations, Chris Russ ’08, the Households directors, Joe Fitzgerald ’17 and Elizabeth Champion, and deans created four panels of alumni, parents, parents of alumni, and interested community members representing a variety of professions and career paths to provide students with the opportunity to hear first-hand practical advice about life after high school and college.
Parent of a sophomore, Mr. Mike Mies who has owned several successful transportation companies, shared his experience of starting his first company in college. Through his story, he shared the importance of praying about business decisions. “I used to make plans and ask God to bless them,” Mr. Mies stated to Lourdes House members. He then realized that things work much better if you ask God to guide your plans first. He used the image of a rowboat versus a sailboat. “In the rowboat, you look ahead, see your destination, and rely on your own hard work and determination to get you where you want to go. But, in the sailboat, you rely much more on the Holy Spirit – the wind in the sails – to lead you where you should go. It’s an image that I pray with a lot.”
Parent ofseveral alums, Anthony P. Patti, a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, spoke to Kibeho House. He noted that he has been guided by a quote from St. John of the Cross, “Where there is no love, put love – and you will find love.” Judge Patti sees people in his courtroom who have never known love and while judging them with justice, tries to do so with love as well.
FGR alumnus and current Board of Trustees member, James Kresta ’07, spoke about his experience in law school while married with a child to Champion House members. “I was working full-time as a gym teacher and athletic director and going to school at night,” said James. “I would get up early, work all day then take two classes at night.” He managed this while also being present to his wife and child and while the pace was grueling, he told students that early in adulthood is the time to “grind” and work long and hard to achieve your goals.
Emily May, mother of a sophomore, was asked how she balances her work and family life. Mrs. May said that keeping a structure to her day helps. “I get up early to exercise and pray, go to work, and then try to keep my evenings free for my family. Morning is for me, the middle of the day is for work, and the evening is for family,” she explained.
Sebastian Gaeta runs an automotive business. His message for Guadalupe House members was practical. He encouraged the students to consider their temperaments when choosing a company to work for. He noted that not everyone is suited to work at a large company or a small company. While he once worked for a large automotive company, his current business employs roughly 15 people. He encouraged students to think through this important consideration when discerning careers and job opportunities. Amy Morrissey, a lawyer, mom of two, and wife of FGR teacher and coach, Jerry Morrissey, also shared practical wisdom. “Work in food service,” she said. That, she believes, will help you build a customer service mindset that will help you in all sorts of careers down the road.
Students had positive comments about Career Day. Michael Norman ’25 and Maya Burak ’25 both thought it helped them consider aspects of work and careers that they had not thought of before. Robert O’Brien ’25 was also impressed. “I thought it covered a lot of good information,” he said. Zoe Frederick ’25 liked “how they showed us that they incorporated their faith into their work life.” “I thought that was really good,” she said.
After this successful inaugural event, we look forward to inviting new panelists to next year’s Career Day.
Thank you to all our 2025 panelists!
Speaking with Lourdes Household: Mike Mies, Erin Mersino, Neil Robert, Greg Ervin
With Champion Household: Emily May, Joseph Cella, James Kresta, Tim Mitzel, Dan Dipple
With Guadalupe Household: Jeff Lawrence, Amy Morrissey, Nancy Graebner-Sundling, Jon Woodsum, Sebastian Gaeta
With KibehoHousehold: Matt Griffin, Anthony Patti, Patrick Hoban, Sandra Montgomery, Brian Grossweiler