When you meet Dan Rolando, you can’t help but see his passion for sharing God with others. When asked about what he’s most looking forward to in his first term with the pastoral council, Dan shared how he’s looking forward to connecting members of our parish community, both new and long-term members, to the “various projects and ministries that give life to our parish family and make our vision come alive in building the Kingdom of God.” Guided by 1 Cor:12, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord...there are many parts, yet one body,” he’s excited to help everyone in our parish learn what part they’re meant to play. 

Much of Dan’s adult life has been spent in ministry and serving others. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and NC State University where he was involved in campus ministry leadership. After obtaining his master’s in engineering, he felt God’s call to serve and worked with The Evangelical Catholic - first as a domestic missionary, then as operations manager. After this, he spent five years helping to form young people in Catholic schools before transitioning to designing curriculum for the national non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance. He has a passion for education, and he hopes to bring about greater equity and opportunity by arming the next generation of graduates with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

One thing people may be surprised to learn about Dan is that he’s a big fan of video games and anime shows. He and Metta have many themed decorations around their home. Additionally, Dan's passion for his faith didn't bloom until later in life. He didn’t grow up surrounded by many faith models, and really found his love for God and his Church during his junior year of college when he took his first theology courses. Since that time, the Ignatian Exercises have played a significant role in his discernment process, and he’s excited to be a part of a Jesuit parish where these values form the foundation of our parish community.

While much of his free time is spent with his wife, Metta, and baby daughter, he also enjoys running, ultimate frisbee, reading, and playing board games with friends whether in person or virtually. Last year, he and Metta were able to assist Catholic Charities with their COVID-19 emergency reopening procedures, helping get them back up after less than two weeks’ downtime and serving the community when they needed it most. He was blessed with the opportunity to serve in pastoral council leadership roles during both undergraduate and graduate school, and is looking forward to helping St. Raphael discern where God is leading us as a parish and to take the right steps to move us in that direction.