Father Travis Mecum/Holy Trinity Catholic Parish/Lenexa, KS

Associate Pastor

frtravishtlenexa.org

"I am originally from western Kansas, and was raised in the farming community of Olmitz, KS - population ~150. I graduated from Otis-Bison Sr. High in 1987, and attended college at Bethany College (majoring in vocal performance); Johnson County Community College (majoring in music education); Mid-America Nazarene College (Associates Degree in Applied Organizational Leadership); and Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA (Master of Divinity).

My parents are Gary & Clara Mecum, and I am the youngest of their five children. I have a half sister (Ellie), a half brother (Vic - who was called home to the Lord in the Spring of 2020), a sister (Tammy), and another sister (Julie).

I have wanted to be a priest since I was age 11; however, my family was Lutheran, and my parents forbid me to convert to Catholicism. In our town, our Parish priest retired when I was 10 years old, and Fr. Ultan Murphy was brought over from Ireland to become our new parish priest. Because my dad was mayor of our little town, we were expected to attend the Installation Mass, and this was my first exposure to the Catholic Liturgy (the smells, the bells, and the reverence.) I fell head over heels in love! Over the years, I came to know Fr. Murphy, who actually became a great friend and remains one to this day! At the age of 11, I knew I wanted to serve God just like he did.

Because my parents would not allow me to convert, I approached my Lutheran bishop when I was 15 to ask if I could go to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor. His response was 'You haven’t experienced any of life yet. Do everything else you can possibly think of first, and then if you still feel called, maybe it is meant to be.'

I have worked in retail, customer service, engineering, real estate, and finally as a clinical manager of a regional sleep center. Patient care was by far the most rewarding profession I had ever been in - until now.

My mother gave me her consent to convert seven years ago. Two years later I was accepted by the Archdiocese to enter formation for the priesthood at Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA. The year after I became Catholic, my mother entered RCIA; the following year, my father became Catholic as well.

Throughout my seminary formation, I have served as an intern at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, where I was active in most every aspect of their ministries. My favorite ministries were hospice, working with the homeless, and at the Emergency Assistance Centers and food pantries.

I have served as an Acolyte and Lector at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Emporia, Kansas. I have also served as Acolyte, Lector, and Catechist at several parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. I served last summer as a deacon at Christ the King in Topeka, Kansas, and in Braintree, MA at the St. Francis/St. Clare collaborative. I was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 23, 2020

I am an avid reader, and love to write enjoy casual astronomy and nature photography.
I am open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. I have already celebrated several Masses at HT, heard confessions several times, and celebrated a funeral service. I look forward to working with the various ministries at HT, and to learning as much as I can from Fr. Mike, who is an alumnus of Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary, and from Fr. Mark.

I nearly always have a bad pun at the ready, and because I am half Irish, I love a good story (and love tell them as well!)"

Father Travis' Communion Prayer