His father’s death was the greatest blessing that ever happened to Nathaniel Gee. Although it was a terrible tragedy that happened to him when he was nine years old, the death of his father eventually brought him closer to God. He recalls all the time spent asking God questions about life and the meaning of it and through a dream where his father appeared to him, putting all his trust in God.

Nathaniel Gee practices his guitar in Christ the King Chapel

“Somebody had ruined all the pictures of my father,” explains Gee. “I forgot what he looked like, and I started crying because I wanted my father so much. One night, I had a dream of my father. I felt so overwhelmed and comforted, and all that came to me was a photograph of his face. I woke up and that picture is engrained in my head. I remember breaking down and crying before God and giving everything over. That’s where my relationship with God began to grow.”

Graduating from Loras in 2009, Nathaniel Gee currently teaches religion at Columbus High School in Waterloo. He has been on an incredible journey of faith, and he credits Loras and the faith community there with being a major influence.

Raised a Lutheran, Loras was the first time Gee ever attended a Catholic mass and talked to a Catholic priest. The faith life and the people that surrounded him are what led Gee to make the decision to turn Catholic.

“All these things were very new to me, but at the same time, within the church, it resonated at the core of my heart and I was drawn to it” says Gee.

Nathaniel didn’t just take something away from Loras, but he also left a lasting impression on the people of Loras. He was very close to the priests and staff members of campus ministry, and participated fully in the RCIA program and various campus ministry activities around campus.

“He just had an unbelievable passion, and a deep deep love for Christ,” says Debbie Gross, Pastoral Associate of Campus Ministry. “He was so peaceful and cared so deeply so that other people were able to be turned on to their faith like he was.”

But now he feels at “home” being part of the Catholic Church, and he knows it’s where he belongs. He has brought his passion of music into his faith life, and it’s his way of expressing his thanks to God.

“I would sing myself to sleep,” says Gee. “I realized if I were to have a message that others need to hear in some way, what better way to really connect with them than through music? It speaks to our hearts and our souls.”

Gee is full of life and faith, and it is apparent when you’re with him. He hopes other people trust God as much as he does, and are ready to leave their life up to God.

“These last two or three years, I’ve entered a huge process of letting go and putting things into God’s hands,” states Gee. “When it comes to love and life, it’s not all about right here, right now. It all points to something greater.”