We're Meant for Community: A Conversation with Fr. Randall Meissen

9/14/26 - In this episode of the Evans Library Podcast, I talk to Fr. Randall Miessen, a Roman Catholic priest, a member of the Legionaries of Christ, and Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry at Florida Tech. Fr. Randall holds degrees in biology, philosophy, theology, Latin, and history. He attended Rice University with the intent of becoming a doctor, until the untimely death of a friend lead him to seek clarity from God on his life’s purpose. That is when he saw a poster that read, "If you're waiting for a sign from God, this is it: join the priesthood." Drawing from his own experience, Father Randall discusses how he counsels college students on discerning their vocations and major life decisions. He clarifies a common misconception that a "calling" from God must be miserable or overly burdensome; instead, a true calling utilizes one's natural aptitudes and should ultimately bring a deep sense of peace, even if the path to get there requires immense hard work and sacrifice.

A major part of Father Randall's campus ministry is taking groups of Florida Tech students on the Camino de Santiago, an ancient 500-mile pilgrimage route across northern Spain ending at the tomb of St. James the Apostle. He highlights the profound impact this journey has on young adults, as it strips life down to basic human needs and fosters solidarity with fellow pilgrims from around the world. He encourages students to live frugally on the trip, budgeting around $40 to $60 a day, which teaches them to weigh personal trade-offs and decisions, something that will bode well for the in adulthood.

In addition to his ministry duties, Father Randall teaches a "Bible as Literature" elective at the university. He focuses heavily on Genesis and First and Second Samuel, treating them as sophisticated literary works. He challenges surface-level or fundamentalist readings, emphasizing that without understanding ancient literary genres, Hebrew poetry versus prose, and allegorical context, readers miss out on the profound depth, nuance, and true meaning of the scriptures.

Catholic Campus Ministry is open to everyone, not just Florida Tech students. If you would like to attend Mass, daily Mass is at 12:05 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and at 12:30 on Tuesday and Thursday. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:00 and 6:00. All days and times are when classes are in session.