A Pacelli High School alumnus and former aspiring priest hopes to instill “real life” Christian values in his students this year.

Jeff Austin, 25, has been hired as the new Religion teacher for grades 9-12 at PHS.

“Religion is part of our life — it’s who we are,” he said. “Young people today, they need to know why it’s important.”

Austin will be using more than just lectures and textbooks to inspire teens with a new program, Campus Ministry.

“The idea of ministry and working with young adults has always been a passion,” he said.

A teaching career, however, was not always his ultimate destination.

A 2001 PHS graduate, Austin attended the University of St. Thomas in the Twin Cities for one year before working full time at a group home for people with developmental disabilities.

He then enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he lived in what he calls a sort of “Catholic frat house.”

“We took a tour of the seminary in Winona,” Austin said.

“I just felt a really strong pull.”

Answering the call to priesthood, Austin began his journey in the seminary at St. Mary’s in Winona. Two and a half years later — last December — his course in life changed.

“I felt God calling me to other things,” Austin said, and pursued education, finding his way back to his alma mater.

“I hope to make this my career,” he said, adding, “It isn’t something I would have foreseen myself doing.”

A couple weeks ago, Austin began preparation for teaching three religion classes — two on Christian lifestyles and one sacraments class for seniors.

“At this level, it’s really just giving them the material…showing the practicality of it,” he said.

Another younger teacher, Dan Zielke, has been hired as his junior high “counterpart” as another religion instructor.

“We have a good male presence in the school this year and that is important,” Austin said. “We’re both young guys. It will help to have good male role models.”

Despite his job as religion teacher, Austin is not employed full-time at PHS; therefore, he has time for other pursuits.

During his hire, he and Austin Area Catholic Schools Director Mary Holtorf discussed an activity the high school is lacking that Austin believes is essential to any Catholic school: Campus Ministry.

“It’s something that is necessary for any Catholic school,” he said.

“In our culture right now, everything is so superficial … you can’t go very deep,” Austin explained. “That’s why the ministry is important — to give students all the opportunity to engage in their faith.”

Campus Ministry, available to students in grades 7-12, will be considered an extra-curricular activity and include retreats and prayer groups “to create that relationship with God.

“It’s not just going to church on Sunday,” Austin said of Christian faith. “The Campus Ministry will be taking it into the real world.”