THINKING OF PRIESTHOOD?
Parents & grandparents can play an important role in helping a young man to consider the possibility of serving God and Church as a priest. Check out the website: www.thinkingofpriesthood.org click on the link for parents.
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| My Vocation:
I was ordained to the priesthood 39 years ago. I have met and worked with many Sisters, priests, deacons, and lay men and women who work for the Catholic Church as teachers, custodians, catechists, secretaries, and pastoral ministers.
I have great respect for those who work for the Church. Each of them has a story, an autobiography about how they came to work for Christ.
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My story has two parts. First, how I became interested in becoming a priest. This part is simple: during my elementary school years, my parents were good friends with our pastor. They admired and respected him. Often, after Mass, they visited with him for a few minutes and were always ready to help him. Naturally, I admired him as well. (The fact that he bought a new car every year had nothing to do with my plans!) I began to imagine being like him and doing the things he did for others. I served Mass as often as I could and the attraction to priesthood grew. My parents encouraged me. I went to the seminary. I enjoyed my studies and made good friends. The priests who were my teachers and advisors (and evaluators) encouraged me. I felt that their encouragement plus my desire to continue were signs that God was calling me to this vocation.
The second part of my story began the day of my ordination: how I have remained interested and committed to this vocation. Let me mention three things.
First, prayer. I think I will always be a beginner at praying. However, in hindsight I recognize that prayer and my relationship with Christ has helped to sustain me. Daily Mass and Communion, annual retreats, spiritual direction, and especially the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius have drawn me closer to our Lord.
Second, ministry. My everyday life is filled with opportunities to serve others. This is very rewarding, very satisfying. As I age I see that this life “fits” me. It is a good way to use the gifts God has given me. Also, I have many many opportunities to study and to develop those gifts, earning graduate degrees at University of Notre Dame (Liturgy) and University of Saint Thomas (Ministry). I cannot imagine that any alternative life would fit me so well.
Third, fraternity. For almost 30 years I have been part of a Jesus Caritas Priests’ Fraternity, a group of seven priests who meet a half-day each month for prayer, study, a meal, and review of life. This friendship and accountability has been a large part of how Christ sustains me in priesthood.
My experience of vocation is still unfolding. It is a kind of collaboration, a partnership with Christ. His yoke is easy. I continue to learn from him.
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