By David Eck

CATHEDERAL DEANERY – Like most college students, Nick Maly likes spending time with his friends and enjoying college life.

But when he’s home from St. Louis University, the parishioner at Holy Name Parish in Mt. Auburn can be found tending the garden on the parish grounds, serving as a Eucharist minister at Mass or helping in other ways around the parish.

"He’s just a good guy," said Sister of Charity Mary Gallagher, pastoral administrator at Holy Name. "He’s just always there. He’s been a (Eucharistic) minister for quite a few years."

COUTESY PHOTO

Nick Maly (left) and St. Louis University campus minister, Steve Fowler, hold the Vatican flag while waiting to greet Pope Benedict XVI on his arrival in Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day.

Being active in the parish has helped strengthen his faith. He has been a parishioner for about 10 years.

"I found a connection there," said Maly, a sophomore studying physical therapy. "I love hanging out with friends, but there’s something different about this. It’s like a second home."

In July he traveled to Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day, an opportunity that thrilled those in his parish. He didn’t really know to expect, but the experience was very moving, beginning with the opening Mass.

The event featured thousands of young people sharing and proclaiming their faith, he said.

"It was amazing to see that may people from countries all over the world," he said. "It was forgetting all of our little political problems and being able to gather for this one reason."

The trip changed him, giving him new focus on the faith.

"It definitely strengthened my faith, he said. "I was having my questions about the faith but they were definitely answered. I’ve become a lot closer to the church."

Attending World Youth Day also gave him a stronger sense of purpose in his parish activities.. Among his goals is to organize a parish trip to World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain in 2011.

"I think it will help me just enjoy the work that I do more," he said. "I don’t know how much more I can actually do with the parish but it will be just more exciting to be helping out with the parish."

The middle of three children, he was encouraged by his parents, Larry and Holly Maly, to take an active role in the church and parish.

"Larry and I have been active in parish life since before we were married," Holly Maly said. "It was just our expectation that (our children) would be involved."