WINFIELD – Mitchell Bolda, 24, has always tried to allow God to guide his life. It is that trust in his faith that he believes led him to meet his wife and will continue to help him as he maneuvers through the joys and challenges of being a father for the first time.
In his teenage years, Bolda, a Holy Spirit parishioner, started to consider entering the seminary. He said he always had an inkling of wanting a family but there was a pull within him toward the priesthood as well.
As Bolda began to seriously discern his vocation, he spent time talking with Father David Kime and Father Christopher Stanish. He also spoke with the late Bishop Dale Melczek and former Gary Bishop Donald Hying and recalled how they also encouraged him to consider the priesthood.
“They always mentioned to me that, ‘Hey, I think you would make a good priest. Just think about it. Pray about it,’” he said. “And it always kind of stuck that in the back of my mind as I spent more time in prayer.”
He continued, “There was always something there that I would love to have children, but whatever God’s calling me to is what I’m going to do.”
Bolda decided to attend Purdue University in Lafayette as he continued to discern. After his first semester, during Christmas break at the end of 2017, he crossed paths with his future wife, Kieran Hussey, while attending Mass. Although the two were aware of each other’s families residing in the same town, they had never spoken.
“I was serving and looked over to where her family had sat for years and years, and I felt like God was pushing me to say something to her, and talk to her, and see where it goes from there.”
Two weeks later the two started dating. The couple navigated through a long-distance relationship as she attended school at Yale University in Connecticut, and he continued his studies at Purdue. They became engaged in December 2020 and were married a year later on Dec. 18, 2021.
“I knew just within the very first few days that she was going to be the one,” he said. “God made that very clear to me.”
When they learned they were expecting a child, Bolda said an exciting time of preparation began that involved moving into a new home, getting a nursery prepared and attending doctor appointments together. As Christmas 2022 approached, Bolda said it really started to set in that it was the couple’s “last Christmas of ‘being a child’ and transitioning that to bringing the joy to our children.”
“To think about what it would have been like for Mary and Joseph waiting for Christ’s arrival, and what was going through Joseph’s mind as everything was taking place, was something that was on my mind,” he said. “I can only imagine the magnitude of what Joseph would have felt knowing that that was the child of God. For me it was a child given to us by God, and it was just the most joyful moment of my life so far.”
Avla Dorothea was born on March 18, 2023. Bolda said the entire week before her arrival he and his wife were anxiously waiting, always making sure they were packed and ready to head to the hospital at any moment.
“When she came out and started crying for that very first time, it's something I just can’t put into words just how beautiful of a moment it was,” he said, reflecting on the birth of his daughter.
Bolda admitted there was some initial nervousness when they brought Avla home as the new parents, realizing there would no longer be the assistance of hospital staff available. It helped to know; however, they had family nearby they could call when needed.
“I try to do everything out of love,” Bolda said, “and seeing all the little things it takes to care for a child really gives me a great appreciation for being a father and doing whatever it takes to care for my daughter, my family and my wife.”
Bolda said he looks forward to watching his daughter continue to grow up, explaining she does some social smiling, vocalizes with coos and giggles, and already sleeps through the night. He shared that he and his wife try to “take in and not rush” every phase of her development.
“We are looking forward to raising her in the Church and having her grow in her love that my wife and I have for the Church, and serving the Church, and our relationship with God,” he said. “Definitely looking forward to the catechesis and teaching her basically everything about the faith and ultimately do my job as a father to love her and lead her to heaven.”
Bolda keeps his faith and the example of Jesus and the love he has for his Church at the center of his marriage and his role as a parent. He is very appreciative of the support of his parish and the priests he has befriended including Bishop Robert McClory and Fathers Tom Mischler, Declan McNicholas, Jacob McDaniel and Jeff Burton.
“We have great examples all around us to go ahead and continue to lead us in our faith and also be great examples for our daughter and future children,” he said.
Father McNicholas said Bolda is "a great friend and his love for his family is so evident."
"He is a man of great faith and gives tirelessly to the Church and his family," said the associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist in St. John. "He always puts his family first. And he's willing to sacrifice so much for his family and for his faith."
Bolda’s advice to other new fathers is to always put God and family first, be patient and cherish every moment. Keeping in close communication with family when you are not able to be together is also important.
Being an airline pilot for Envoy Air, Bolda works several days in a row during the week, but then he’s home for three to four days. While he is fortunate to have a nice work-home balance, he still appreciates the moments when he can FaceTime or receive a picture of his daughter from his wife when he is gone.
“Cherish every little, tiny moment that there is and not just look at the milestones,” he said. “Yes, the milestones are amazing, but there is a lot in between that if you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss it.”