Office Staff
Fr. Nathan Rueb
Vocation Director
Fr. Rueb grew up on a farm in Eastern Colorado and is the oldest of three boys. He attended William Jewell College and graduated in 2012 with a BA in International Relations and Political Science. He worked for a political consultant for one year after school during the 2012 election cycle where he researched and wrote political direct mail. Fr. Rueb attended St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, NE for two years of philosophical studies before being assigned to study at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, in Rome, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 2019.
Fr. Adam Johnson
Director of Seminarians
Fr. Johnson grew up in the Kansas City area attending St. Therese parish in Parkville. During his junior year at the University of Missouri, he felt that God might be calling him to the priesthood and he entered the seminary.
He studied at Conception Seminary while finishing his college degree and then was sent for theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 2012 and has served as the associate pastor of St. John LaLande parish in Blue Springs and then as pastor of St. Matthew Apostle parish in Kansas City, before becoming the Director of Young Adult & Campus Ministry for the diocese while also serving as administrator for Sacred Heart parish in Hamilton and Mary Immaculate parish in Gallatin.
Fr. Johnson served as Vocation Director from 2016-2022 and is currently the Pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Diocesan Shrine to Divine Mercy.
Katie Stockard Lucas
Office Manager
Katie Stockard Lucas grew up in the Kansas City area. She has worked for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for over 13 years at different parishes/schools including Our Lady of Lourdes (Raytown), St. Elizabeth, Christ the King, and St. Michael the Archangel High School. She is thrilled to be working in the Vocations Office and considers it an honor to serve/work along so many holy men. Katie’s favorite Saints are St. Padre Pio and St. Mary Magdalene. When not at the Vocations Office you may see her at Alexandra’s House, her parish Christ the King or running. She loves spending time with her three college aged daughters (Izzy, Francie and Beatrice) and is always thankful when they can all be together.
Mark Sappington
Associate Director
Mark Sappington grew up in Peculiar, MO. He is the son of Scott and Mary Sappington and the second of six children. Mark attended Rockhurst University, studied economics, and following his junior year was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels as a Right-Handed Pitcher in 2012. He pitched in the minor leagues for the Angels for two years before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. That trade proved to be the pivotal moment of Mark’s life as it led to his reversion back to the Catholic Faith. Mark started attending daily Mass, gave up all his social media, stopped pursuing sinful relationships with women, and fell in love with Jesus in a radical way. His heart has been in the process of continual conversion since that Lent. A “practicing” Catholic since February 2015, Mark’s unique fire for the faith has been driven by his experience of forgiveness and redemption through the sacrament of reconciliation. He wants others to be who God created them to be!
Mark lives in the Westport area with three other Catholic men who are going after the heart of Jesus in the heart of Westport; he is also engaged to Lilly, a lovely woman who matches his fire for Christ. Mark shares a unique understanding of the discernment process via his brother, Paul who is in seminary. Mark’s favorite Saints are St. JoseMarià Escriva and St. Catherine of Siena. He enjoys going to Waffle House with his brothers, shooting off fireworks, learning about people’s strengths, roadtrips and spreading the Gospel. Mark is deeply passionate about human formation and the building of a virtuous life.
