Keeping the Faith: The Rev. G. Eugene Nickol | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

"We live up to our name," he said. "We are a church in the field. We're not overly large. We don't have all the urban blight. We're not our lady of suburban sprawl; we are true to our name."

It may not be overly large, but it's of considerable size in membership, which is numbered in the thousands. While other Catholic churches are being consolidated into other parishes, the active parish on Cecil Avenue is preparing to expand the church nave and an adoration chapel.

EDUCATION: The Rev. Nickol grew up in Baltimore attending the Shrine of the Little Flower. He entered seminary at St. Charles College, which is now the Charlestown Retirement Village. It was 1961, and it wasn't uncommon for young men to begin their training for the priesthood at that age, and he studied with boys from all over the country. After he graduated from seminary, he continued his studies at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, where he earned his master's in theology. At the age of 26, he was ordained as a priest, serving first as an associate pastor at St. Joseph's in Fullerton, then St. Agnes in Catonsville. The first church he served as senior pastor was St. Peter's in Libertytown. He served then at Holy Trinity in Glen Burnie for 10 years. In 2003, he began his service at Our Lady of the Fields.

HIS ROLE IN THE CHURCH: "I'm the main cheer person," he said, "I try to be the person who brings everybody together to serve the Lord. I don't make it happen; they make it happen."

FIRST JOB: While attending St. Charles, he worked in the mail room for Maryland National Bank.

MOMENT OF CALLING: His moment of calling seems almost like a given to the Rev. Nickol, who said when it comes to the priesthood, "I'm a lifer." Having a father who served as his church's treasurer, he frequently found himself in the company of priests, including his own uncle. "I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to be like them," he said. "My family very much encouraged me."

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Pointing out that the church has a membership consisting of over 2,300 families, he said his biggest challenge is his singularity. "There are so many families and just one of me."

LIKES MOST: "I like the fact that people all pitch in and make it happen. So I'm not actually doing things alone," he said. "Back when I was a young man the priest did everything."

LIKES LEAST: "There is a never-ending flow of paperwork that has to be followed up on. It's mind-boggling and numbing to the spirit."

LONG-RANGE GOAL: For the church, the Rev. Nickol is working to make his congregation better evangelists, not only to get new people, but to bring people back to the Church. To that end, a group from the church will join him this summer for evangelistic training. His own long-range goal is to continue at Our Lady of the Fields. "I hope to retire here," he said, quickly pointing out that won't happen anytime too soon.

IF HE COULD DO IT AGAIN: "God's always put me where he wanted me. Maybe not where I wanted to go, but where he wanted me to be."

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The Rev. Nickol loosely translated oft-quoted verse as, "Wake up and smell the goodness of the Lord!"

SERVICE HOURS: Masses are offered at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday; 7, 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday; and at 8:30 a.m. weekdays.

ON THE AGENDA: Beginning Sept. 24, the church will offer Walking with Purpose, a women's Bible study program. Geared to younger women, the church will offer childcare services so that young mothers may also attend. Visit www.ourladyofthefields.org for details.

- Elyzabeth Marcussen