A former Loyola student read scripture during Pope John Paul II’s funeral mass. John McDonald, 28, graduated from Loyola in 1998 with a bachelor’s in history.

An Episcopalian by birth, McDonald converted to Catholicism during his time at Loyola.

He is now a seminarian at the Pontifical National College in Rome.

A papal funeral requires three scripture readings, with two to be read by laypeople.

The service is performed in several languages, prompting the need for a native English speaker. McDonald, two years away from receiving his orders, was selected.

Professor of History Nancy Anderson taught McDonald at Loyola but lost touch with him after graduation.

She was stunned to see his name featured in a Washington Post article about his selection – the first she had heard about McDonald in years.

“He was a great student and a fun-loving person,” Anderson said. Though she did not know McDonald is in the seminary, she said she was not surprised.

“Even if he had a lot of fun, he took the meaning of life seriously,” Anderson said.

“I felt like that core of faith was very strong in him and could call him to be a priest.”

Chris Liuzza can be reached at [email protected].