By Andy Mincey

Gregg Grovenburg, 18, of Denver, Colorado, has his spiritual and professional career mapped out precisely but doesn’t always do well on mundane, geographic directions.

When Gregg was spotted, wearing an A-frame backpack fitted with sleeping bag and rucksack, walking north on Georgia Highway 20, he looked like a walking feature story. When approached and asked what his destination was, he replied that he was headed for the monastery.

He didn’t seem to be particularly dismayed that he was 180 degrees off course and agreed at the click of a camera shutter to swap his story for a free ride to the Monastery of the Holy Ghost.

Gregg is a 1976 graduate of Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Immediately after he was graduated, he moved to Denver and made preparations to enter Regis College as a Jesuit novice. His novitiate at St. Regis will last for two years. After that he will move on to St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he will take an additional three years college level study load with a major in philosophy.

When he graduates from St. Louis University, he will move into a three-year regency (high school teaching) program. He will then finish his formal training with four years of study at some Catholic seminary, yet to be selected.

After he finished preparation to enter Regis College in the spring term, Gregg and a number of his classmates left for various spots in the U.S. to commence on-the-job training as Jesuit novitiates.

Gregg, by a number of means of transportation, made it to Atlanta early this week. When he finishes a short retreat at the monastery, he will return to Atlanta and work at the Village of St. Joseph until it is time to head for Denver and commence formal training.

If you see a handsome, blond youth, walking along the road wearing an aluminum A-frame loaded with camping goodies, stop and ask him where he is going. It might be Gregg Grovenburg and he might be off his geographic course.