Father Jon Fincher

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Father John Fincher, whose time at Benedictine College lasted only two years—but forever changed the course of his life. What began as a college search led him to a campus where authentic friendships, joyful faith, and a powerful encounter with Christ in the Eucharist awakened a vocation he never expected: the priesthood.

Father John reflects on how Benedictine became the place where his faith moved from routine to relationship. Through daily Mass, the sacraments, campus ministry, and the witness of those around him, he discovered that true fulfillment wasn’t found in having everything he wanted—it was found in saying yes to the path God had been quietly calling him toward all along. That decision ultimately led him from Atchison to seminary in Dallas, years of formation in Rome, and eventually to ordination as a priest for the Diocese of Tulsa.

Now serving the Church through Catholic education and parish ministry, Father John shares how the Benedictine values of hospitality, authentic community, and putting Christ above all continue to shape the way he leads, teaches, and walks with others. His story is a reminder that being a Raven isn’t measured by the number of years spent on campus, but by the lifelong impact of encountering Christ, discovering your vocation, and carrying that mission wherever God leads.