St. Thomas graduate Nick Nelson said he is still amazed after being given the opportunity to serve alongside Pope Benedict XVI in the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Through connections with the pontifical Master of Ceremonies, Nelson, of Duluth, Minn., was able to perform his duties as deacon during the Mass on Dec. 24, 2012.

“This was great, not only because he is the pope, and this was Christmas Eve, but that he is a hero of almost all faithful Catholics, lay and clergy alike,” Nelson said. “So to have this moment with him is really special.”

Nelson serves as chaplain to the Catholic Studies students in Rome. Once during a semester, the pontifical Master of Ceremonies asks students to serve during the mass and he also invites deacons, like Nelson, to serve as well.

During the Mass, Nelson said the only thing going through his mind was, “don’t screw this up.”

“I just had to sit by the pope and look good,” Nelson said.

Sophomore Katie Jones and junior Joseph Sattler are currently studying abroad in Rome and, along with their classmates, spend each Wednesday night with Nelson during the community night, which includes an hour of adoration, evening prayer, mass, a discussion and dinner.

Jones attended the Christmas Eve Mass and was able to see Nelson in the celebration.

“It was the coolest moment ever,” Jones said. “I was really proud to say that I know him.”

Sattler said knowing someone who participated in a Mass with the pope helped him feel a greater connection to the church.

“Often the pope and the Vatican seem so far removed, so above us, that we forget the role that they play in serving Christ’s church on earth,” Sattler said. “Seeing him (Nelson) up there alongside the pope brings into perspective the generations.”

Nelson said Benedict is a great man, priest and is also his hero.

“As someone who follows him daily, I can say he is ‘the man’ and is doing great things for the church and the world,” Nelson said.

Nelson began his journey at St. Thomas in the fall of 2004. In January 2007 he entered the seminary where he continued to study accounting, and graduated from St. Thomas in 2009.

As a student at St. Thomas, Nelson played on the varsity hockey team for four years, becoming assistant captain his senior year. Nelson used his hockey career as an analogy to his experience serving the pope.

“As someone who has played hockey all my life, it would be similar (to), yet a step above, playing on the same line as Wayne Gretzky,” Nelson said.

Nelson was also one of the three finalists for the Tommie Award in 2009.

“UST is in my blood, and (I) pray for it daily,” Nelson said.

Sattler said Nelson is not only a great leader, but a friend too.

“We have been able to witness him in his journey as he has helped us with our own (journeys) this semester,” Sattler said.

Jones said she’ll never forget a homily Nelson gave about being strong witnesses to their Catholic faith.

“He said, ‘I have been saved by Christ’s death and resurrection, I am being saved through the sacraments and living out the gospel, and I hope to be saved at my death or when Christ returns,’” Jones said. “He’s going to make an amazing priest.”

Caroline Rode can be reached at rode8318@stthomas.edu.