Timothy Truster has always been the type of person who likes to look ahead to what is next in life. From choosing a college to deciding to become an engineer, Truster took steps beforehand to ensure he was on a path that aligned with his passion. Once he was given tenure in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee in 2019, Truster began feeling a gradual pull in a different direction.
Baptized into the Catholic religion, Truster became more intentional about his faith as he grew older. He began seeking guidance about his spiritual sense of purpose and taking part in monthly group meetings for fellowship and discussion about Catholicism at the Diocese of Knoxville.
Moved by prayer and the desire to serve others, Truster, 39, has answered the call to join the priesthood. He informed the CEE faculty of his plans during the summer. Truster was accepted into seminary and began classes during the fall semester at DePaul University in Chicago. Truster’s pre-seminary coursework at DePaul will lead to a theology curriculum at the Catholic Theological Union, a graduate school of theology in Chicago.
“Some people have seen this in me for a long time. Others, it’s maybe somewhere on the surprise or shock spectrum,” said Truster, who has never been married. “There really hasn’t been anyone who’s been negative. But a few people find it fascinating that faith and reason can co-exist in someone’s life, because a lot of people that become more technical may renounce religion because they think that science can explain everything.”
Although Truster has left Knoxville, he hasn’t completely left his role as an engineering professor behind. Truster has four graduate students and a postdoc that he is supervising on some funded projects. He is meeting with them remotely each week and helping with their dissertations until they are complete.
“Tim’s 12-year career at UT can be characterized by excellence in every facet of his work. Students recognized him as a gifted teacher who was fully committed to providing a supportive learning environment,” said CEE Department Head Chris Cox. “His research in computational mechanics is at the very forefront of the field. He’s also been a fantastic colleague, always willing to help out where needed.”
Having a Service Mindset
Truster joined the UT faculty in 2013 after earning his PhD in civil engineering at the University of Illinois. His area of specialization was structures, with an emphasis on the development of computational techniques for the modeling of advanced materials.
“I really took home what the Volunteer spirit was while I was at UT,” Truster said. “The Volunteer spirit means something, and there’s a service mindset and a holistic view amid the academic rigor. I think it has been a great place to grow a professional career.”
Truster had what he calls his “Saint Paul moment” that convinced him to join the priesthood while on vacation with his parents in 2024. They stopped in Roanoke, Virginia, to attend a Vigil Mass at Pentecost. Truster shared with his parents that he was considering the priesthood and was praying about his decision.
“During his homily, the priest mentioned that this was the anniversary of his ordination, and he also is a later-in-life vocation,” Truster said. “When people asked him why he discerned into the priesthood, he put it this way: in God’s economy, all things are put to use.”
The words, combined with other moments during the Mass, resonated deeply with Truster, and he was overcome by a sense of peace and calmness. He knew he would “answer the call to pursue the Lord’s calling.”
“A few other professors I’ve spoken to through this time have also considered this, even though they’re from the science background,” Truster said. “For anyone that’s thinking of this path, one has to not be afraid to listen to what’s in one’s soul and be courageous to give the answer.”
Debangshu Paul, one of Truster’s PhD students, was initially surprised when Truster informed him of his decision to leave UT.
“But that feeling quickly shifted to understanding,” Paul said. “I’ve always seen him as a genuinely religious, sincere, and responsible person with a strong desire to help others. So, his choice to become a priest felt like a natural and meaningful step in his personal journey.”
Becoming a Student Again
Truster sold his house in Knoxville and used the money to pay off his parents’ home. He moved to Chicago, and lives in a dorm with other students while he studies for seven years before being ordained.
Truster will be taking 30 hours of philosophy over the first two years and has chosen Spanish as a second language. Along with theological studies, Truster will be doing ministry work and outreach activities to get more involved with the church.
“I’m not worried about the study part, but it will be different. It will be more memorization, reading, and writing compared to the engineering work,” Truster said. “But I do memorize things well. I will probably need to make room for this knowledge and let some other things seep out.”
Truster, an Ohio native, has joined the Missionaries of Precious Blood, an international religious order founded in Italy with a U.S. base located in Dayton, Ohio, where Truster received his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton.
The order is a society of apostolic life, and its members make promises of charity and fidelity to each other. Once ordained, Truster could be assigned to a parish affiliated with the Missionaries of Precious Blood, or help lead retreats, assist in reconciliation centers, or be a professor at a Missionaries of Precious Blood college in Indiana.
“I have these seven years where they are discerning if I’m right for them and they’re right for me,” Truster said. “As time goes on, I may still feel priesthood is right, but maybe the Missionaries of the Precious Blood aren’t right. There are ways to shift also, because a lot of what you’re studying is going to be similar, because there’s a framework kind of like there’s an accreditation for civil engineering.”
Following His Heart
Truster is adjusting to sharing a residence with other people again. His roommates come from backgrounds that include nursing, business, and other disciplines. His engineering skillset comes in handy at times.
“I bring a different thought to the way I approach some of the conversations we’re having,” said Truster, before adding with a laugh, “and I can provide more IT support, like for our Wi-Fi at the house or fixing things up.”
Truster is excited to get back into the classroom as a student and gain a different perspective after so many years of teaching. He may continue his engineering work as a hobby as he pursues the path to priesthood.
During one of his recent classes at DePaul, Truster learned about the etymology of the word courage. It comes from the Latin root cor, which means heart. It reminded Truster about why he made the decision to leave engineering and become a priest. He was following his heart.
“I look forward to ministering in a different way,” he said. “I’ve always liked teaching, tutoring, volunteering, and helping others. But here it’s going to be a way to really practice my faith and bring Jesus to others.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu)