Priestly Vocations Testimonies

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Bruen was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

I was married for 40 years, so I didn’t consider a priestly vocation. When my wife became ill, the doctors and nurses were all helpful, but the priests and deacons who came to pray, anoint and support us made a huge difference. That stuck in my mind. When my wife entered hospice, I began to feel the presence of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—those statues and paintings of the Sacred Heart that I had seen but ignored my whole life began to jump out at me. I knew the Lord was trying to tell me something. When she died, I asked a priest friend about it, and he simply pointed out that “Sacred Heart” was the name of the seminary in Detroit and that perhaps God was trying to tell me that I had a priestly vocation now that my married vocation had ended. That began the journey that ended with me entering the seminary 18 months later.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

Living in community with other men who have also been called has been a real blessing. Praying, worshiping, and learning together have really helped the growth of my spiritual life. After First Theology, Detroit sends all of their seminarians on a 30-day silent retreat, and that experience gave me a sense of contemplative prayer that helped me learn how to listen to the Lord. The whole formation process has changed me in many ways I didn’t think I was capable of.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

Of course! I don’t think anyone feels worthy enough, holy enough or smart enough to be a priest. I didn’t know if I could keep up with the schoolwork after being away from it for decades. But Jesus walks with us and gives us the confidence that he will send the Holy Spirit to bless us with what we need. Learning to hand over any stress to the Lord with the full knowledge that he will take care of it has made my life so much better!

What attracts you about the priesthood?

Service. While taking care of my wife when she was sick and dying, I learned that there are unseen benefits in being of service to others. It was very difficult, but looking back, I realize that it was one of the happiest times of my life and the strongest part of our marriage. God gives us great joy and many graces when we help others. I am not blessed with many particular talents, but I feel that I can be of service. I hope to be of service for many more years, too.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

My parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren have all been very supportive. Father Bob McCabe put the idea in my head. I have known him for more than 50 years, and he is a great example of a holy man of service. Father Bill Turner was my pastor at the time and has always been willing to do whatever I ask of him. Father Craig Giera has been a steady rock for me. I would not be here without him. Father JJ Mech and Father John Kopson have been great mentors. Many others have helped in their support and prayers.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

Take some time to consider it. I think every young man should at least talk to their pastor or the vocations director. Even if they don’t feel called right now, they will benefit from knowing how to discern and what it entails.

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

God’s call to discern seminary and the priesthood was a very gradual movement. Over the course of my time at Wayne State University, the priests and students at the Newman Center helped by their example to draw me out of a life of the world, into one centered in sacramental living. As I increased in the sacraments (participation and reception), I was drawn in and desired to discover and follow God’s will for my life. Throughout this time there were little moments of God’s providence, that I coughed up to be coincidence, where I found myself thinking about the priesthood or talking about the topic with others unintentionally. These “moments” only increased in frequency and magnitude as time went on. Many providential “doors” opened in my life during this time, allowing me to experience SEEK19 in Indianapolis, and go on a mission trip to Peru. I even went a second time to Peru, because of the strength of God’s grace in that atmosphere of service and prayer.

On the second trip I was actually discerning marriage, when I realized I had been lying to myself and to others as I spoke about seeking God’s will for my life, when in reality I was just seeking permission in prayer for my own plans. I had built up walls against vulnerability and tightly shut the doors of my heart, through which God was waiting to speak Love and Truth into my life. When I realized in prayer what I was really doing, I knew I had to stop, break down the interior walls/doors and let God in. After doing so (as an interior conscious choice in prayer) I was rushed with a sense of God’s love and mercy along with this resounding notion of “PRIESTHOOD,” echoing throughout my entire body. I knew I could not live another day of my life the same. Giving God my “Yes”, I also gave Him permission with necessity to change my mind, and my heart, making me ready to continue to answer this divine call I felt so unworthy and inadequate of at the time. With that first “Yes” and every step in that direction afterwards came more desire for the priesthood and the deep peace, joy, and freedom I had been searching for during the several years prior to that moment in prayer.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

Taking time daily before Jesus in the Eucharist in prayer, and receiving Him in the Eucharist daily at Mass, coupled with living in communion with brothers who are all here to discern God’s will alongside me, has helped me grow in hope and trust that Jesus hears and answers our prayers. I have also grown to know and better understand Jesus’ patience and charity towards me and how He is inviting me to conform to Him and share that same charity and patience with those around me.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

Tons. But there is no shame and no surprise there. The Enemy sows seeds of doubt, despair, and distrust in all of us to distract us from knowing and accomplishing the will of God. By letting God be God, and by letting Him into our hearts and lives, we can all practice a surely trustworthy abandonment to His divine providence.

By trying to keep this sense of abandonment I work to live in God’s perfect Love which casts out all fear. I also work to be aware of the fears when they come up, and understand that they are not from God, and take action in prayer and petition to God for freedom against these fears when they surface.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

The magnitude of opportunity for the eternal salvation of my soul and all the souls of the people God entrusts to me. Likewise, the great mysteries of sacrificial love seen in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross and in the Eucharist and the paradox of virility in humility in which He invites us to take part.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

Aside from the graces of the Most Holy Trinity and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my mentor and friend Alejo Molina, a consecrated lay member of Sodalitum Christianae Vitae in Peru, has helped me the most. From helping me come to Peru on mission for the first time, to inviting me to pray my first holy hour, to serving for the first time at Mass, and walking with me spiritually as I discerned to apply for Sacred Heart Major Seminary with the Archdiocese of Detroit, Alejo has been a part of my story and continues to be today. I thank God greatly for his virtuous living and witness to his faith.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

Stop thinking, “My plans are better, God’s plan won’t fulfill my desires.” Let God in, and be ready to be astounded with the ways in which the Creator of the Universe knows you and loves you and wants you to grow in freedom, peace and joy. Likewise, do not be deceived. Be aware and understand that the voices of fear promoting paralyzing doubt and despair in our lives can be acted against and rejected in Jesus’ name! Lastly, I would encourage ongoing prayer with Sirach Chapter 2. May your curiosities draw you there now!

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Finkbeiner was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

I experienced the call to discern the priesthood through the deepening of my relationship with the Lord in prayer and through ministry experiences while in college. This call has been strengthened and confirmed through my years of seminary formation.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

Since entering the seminary, my prayer life has grown as I have learned how to bring the experiences of my daily life before Him and trust that He will speak to my heart. I have also come to know the living Lord more profoundly through the Scriptures.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

I feared that pursuing the priesthood would leave me lonely. As I have brought my desire for communion before the Lord, He has repeatedly promised and proven that His companionship is sufficient for me and that He will always provide people to journey with me in the moments when I need encouragement.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

I am attracted to the priesthood first and foremost because I believe that it is the Lord’s will for my life, the specific vocation by which God has created me to bring life into the world through preaching, sacramental ministry, and pastoral care for the faithful. The thought of being a spiritual father and having a key role in leading people into a living relationship with Jesus fills me with enthusiasm.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

The most helpful people for me on my journey toward the priesthood have been the priests who have personally invested in me as a brother in the Lord during my discernment — encouraging me by their friendship and inspiring me by their witness of life.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

A vocation to the priesthood only makes sense in the context of a living relationship with Jesus. I would encourage all young men to prioritize their relationship with the Lord above all other things in their lives, and to give Him permission to guide them in their life choices. A man who is praying and who is honestly willing to follow where Jesus leads will be well disposed to hear and respond to the Lord’s call.

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

The first time I felt called to be a priest I was four years old. I loved to “play Mass”, it brought a lot of joy to spend my days as a child “playing Mass” as the priest. The priest at my parish was a great role model for me. Then in college, at a silent retreat, during adoration; I heard the Lord once again inviting me to be a priest for Him.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

Since entering seminary, I have been able to grow in my prayer life and apostolic work. By spending time in quiet prayer, I allow the Lord to share His very being and life with me. Through serving the people of God I have had the beautiful experience of being Christ to everyone and seeing Christ in them.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

There was definitely the fear that I was not good enough to be a priest and that the Lord could have chosen a million other men to be priest. But realizing that the Lord qualifies the called instead of calls the qualified helped to put the entire vocation in perspective.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

I want to live out what St. Paul writes about in Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”. I want to do this as a priest! In persona Christi!

“To go from men to God to offer Him their prayers, and to return from God to men to bring pardon and hope”. This quote from Lacordaire says it all. The priest does this most profoundly in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but he also does it through every action of his life.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

Fr. Jeffery Day was the priest at my home parish growing up, he was a great model of living a joyful priesthood for me. My Grandpa and Grandma Lennon were very encouraging of my desire for priesthood growing up (my grandpa is a deacon and my grandma made me vestments when I was a boy to “play Mass”). Finally living in a parish, the year before I entered seminary with Fr. Tim Birney, Fr. Adam Novak, and Fr. Steve Mateja gave me a first-hand look into the life of a parish priesthood.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

Be not afraid and trust in the Lord! Jesus wants your life to be filled with joy and fulfilling, if you are called to be a priest, it is in this vocation that you will find joy and fulfillment! I heard seminary described this way and it helped me greatly in the undergrad program: seminary is a place where I encounter Jesus, where I fall in love with Jesus, and Jesus shows me my vocation! He will show you your vocation in seminary, whether that is to be a priest or not!

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Whalen was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

I experienced God’s call to be a priest through the lived faith of my family, the school I went to, and the Church. It was through this community of believers that I began asking God, “What should I with my gifts?” Then, through prayer and the advice of priests and friends, I was able to find constant joy with the call to be a priest.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

My relationship with Jesus has grown tremendously! Not only am I able to call Jesus as my Lord, my King, and my God, but also my Friend. I place all my weaknesses and strengths into His Sacred Heart so that His love guides me. Sacred Heart Major Seminary, through their priests, staff, and faculty have guided me to listen to the loving and encouraging voice of Jesus.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

I did have fears about the call. I was not sure if I was capable enough, smart enough, or good enough to be a priest; however, I overcame them by Christ. At one point in Eucharistic Adoration, I surrendered to Jesus and accepted His love to penetrate my very being.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

I am attracted to the relationship the priest has with the Church. I am always inspired by seeing priests with a close relationship with the sacraments and with Christ because this relationship calls the priest to express Christ love with others.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

My parents, Msgr. McEnhill, the priests at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and my friends have all helped me pursue my vocation to the priesthood.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

My first advice is that all young men should pray about being a priest, a religious brother, married or the single life. Secondly, my advice to the young men considering a vocation to the priesthood is to stop wrestling the idea of being a priest in your head. But instead, move on the idea by asking a priest and then come to the seminary. This helped me because all the “what ifs” and “buts” would freeze me up; but by talking about the priesthood with priests and by going to the seminary, I was able to confirm my vocation.

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Musgrave was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

My call to the seminary was born out of daily prayer and Eucharistic adoration, rooted in a deep love for Jesus, and driven by the mission to continue the work Jesus began on Easter Sunday: the restoration and recreation of the world. Getting involved at my home parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, really helped me to grow as a disciple and discover that God was calling me to continue discerning priesthood in the seminary.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

Praying and studying Sacred Scripture on a daily basis has been one of the greatest blessings of being in seminary formation. God has and continues to speak to me in new and unexpected ways through Scripture. Spiritual direction has also helped me to know Jesus, and therefore myself, in a deeper way.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

I was not called into the seminary until my 30s, so I had already been established in my career, owned a home, etc. It was difficult giving that all up, and at times seemed impossible, but I found these words from St. Paul to be especially poignant and helpful as I was discerning: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:7-8)

What attracts you about the priesthood?

I’ve always been attracted to and involved with evangelization, discipleship, teaching, servant leadership, and healing. All of those things (and more) were fulfilled in Christ’s priesthood, and I have a strong desire to participate in his ministry by making God’s love and mercy present and available through the sacraments.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

Fr. John Riccardo and Fr. Jim Bilot have been great priestly mentors, spiritual fathers, and friends; Mary Guilfoyle, Melissa Hunt, and countless other friends and fellow disciples I prayed, served, and did life with at OLGC; and all of my friends and benefactors from the Laboure Society who helped rescue my vocation from student loan debt.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

There is nothing more adventurous or fulfilling than following God’s plan for your life, so focus on your relationship with Jesus. Spend time with him every day in Eucharistic adoration and he will reveal the right next step — whatever that may be. Don’t let fear or feelings of inadequacy, unpreparedness, unworthiness, or any other lies or accusations from the enemy stop you from your unique mission as a disciple of Jesus.

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

I never heard a loud booming voice from the sky, but God used the voices of others to get my attention and to give me guidance. I was very involved at my parish, and many people spoke to me about considering a vocation to priesthood. I began paying closer attention to the inner movements of the Holy Spirit, and I realized God was filling my heart with a deep sense of peace, that priesthood is the right path for me.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

This is what seminary is all about: growing in your relationship with Jesus. The Lord has helped me to lay aside my expectations, not to depend on myself, and to trust in his plan. God is bigger than my circumstances and possesses all wisdom, and we can rest in his understanding.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

I remember being fearful about celibacy and not having a family before entering seminary, but I didn’t allow that fear to push the idea of a vocation away. I realized the fear I experienced wasn’t from God. God leads us by giving confidence in his call and his mercy! By God’s grace, I joyfully make a gift of myself, to serve the Lord and his Church with an undivided heart.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

I look forward to celebrating the sacraments and sharing the saving truth of Jesus with others.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

I receive a lot of support from my pastor, other priests, deacons and my friends. They’ve helped me to hear and answer God’s call. I owe a great debt of gratitude to all of them for their prayers and guidance.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

Don’t be afraid! Fear is never of God. If you feel the Lord may be calling you to serve him as a priest, please reach out to your pastor for guidance in your discernment. Keep praying! Pray the rosary everyday. Our Blessed Mother will lead you to your vocation. I also recommend reading the book To Save A Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood by Fr. Brett Brannon.

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Barba was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?

I grew up in a devout Mexican Catholic household where faith was very important. I was blessed with having very religious grandmothers. My maternal grandmother, Mercedes, who was a Third Order Carmelite, had a very particular role in my vocation. While she passed away when I was young, the stories my mother would tell me about how devout she was in the midst of various sufferings and how she served the people of God in Los Dolores, Jalisco with such love inspired me deeply. The first time I thought about becoming a priest was when I was about 8 years old. I was an altar server for many years and was involved with various Church events. The Church became my second home. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that the thought of becoming a priest came back and it would persist until after my second year in college when I finally applied to the seminary. During that time I fought the call, wanting God to give me a “burning bush” moment as proof of my call. It wasn’t until my third discernment weekend (third time’s the charm!) where the Lord made it very clear He was calling me to the seminary. As the time went by I began to realize God was giving me various signs but I was so caught up with my way of doing things that I didn’t see them!

Crecí en un devoto hogar católico mexicano donde la fe era muy importante. Tuve la suerte de tener abuelas muy religiosas. Mi abuela materna, Mercedes, que era una Carmelita de Tercera Orden, tuvo un papel muy particular en mi vocación. Aunque ella falleció cuando yo era pequeño, las historias que mi madre me contaba sobre lo devota que era en medio de diversos sufrimientos y cómo servía al pueblo de Dios en Los Dolores, Jalisco con tanto amor me inspiraron profundamente. La primera vez que pensé en ser sacerdote fue cuando tenía unos 8 años. Fui monaguillo durante muchos años y participé en varios eventos de la Iglesia. La Iglesia se convirtió en mi segundo hogar. No fue hasta mi último año de secundaria que volvió la idea de convertirme en sacerdote y persistiría hasta después de mi segundo año en la universidad, cuando finalmente solicité el ingreso al seminario. Durante ese tiempo luché contra el llamado, deseando que Dios me diera una “zarza ardiente” como prueba de mi llamado. No fue hasta mi tercer fin de semana de discernimiento (¡ a la tercera va la vencida!) donde el Señor dejó muy claro que me estaba llamando al seminario. Conforme pasó el tiempo comencé a darme cuenta de que Dios me ESTABA dando varias señales pero estaba tan absorto en mi forma de hacer las cosas que no las vi.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?

In regards to my relationship with Jesus, I have gone from praying to Jesus to praying with Jesus. What I mean is growing in intimacy with Him where I am continually conversing with Him throughout the day, as well as uniting myself, my joy, my suffering, my vocation, my work, and everything else to Him. My relationship has gone beyond simply knowing about Jesus to knowing Him in a personal, particular, and concrete way. There has been a persistent desire to conform my will, my heart, and my whole being to Jesus and His Sacred Heart. Finally, a huge blessing from this past year has been immersing myself in God’s infinite love which is the source of everything and from which I will be able to give to the people of God. I’ve begun to more personally embrace my identity as a beloved son of the Father.

Con respecto a mi relación con Jesús, he pasado de orar A Jesús a orar CON Jesús. Lo que quiero decir es que crecí en mi intimidad con el Señor donde estoy continuamente conversando con Él a lo largo del día, además de unirme yo, mi alegría, mi sufrimiento, mi vocación, mi trabajo y todo lo demás a Él. Mi relación no solo ha ido más allá del simple conocimiento SOBRE Jesús si no de conocerlo de una manera personal, particular y concreta. Ha habido un deseo persistente de conformar mi voluntad, mi corazón y todo mi ser a Jesús y Su Sagrado Corazón. Finalmente, una gran bendición del año pasado fue sumergirme en el amor infinito de Dios que es la FUENTE de todo y del cual podré darle al pueblo de Dios. He comenzado a abrazar más personalmente mi identidad como hijo amado del Padre.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?

I would say most of my fears could be summed up in the following way: I feared letting go of what I thought I wanted for my life as well as being open to what God wanted even if it meant going to the seminary. One example of this fear would be leaving my family. I come from a culture that’s very family oriented and dependent, and children usually don’t leave their household until they get married. Along with this was the fact that growing up and getting an education was very important because my parents weren’t given that opportunity and wanted my siblings and I to have that opportunity. It was difficult for me to leave my family and the opportunity to study at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where I was on a scholarship, when I wasn’t 100 percent sure God was calling me to be a priest. Thankfully, this fear was overcome with profound trust in God as well as faith in his divine will. As the years went on I realized how God had taken care of all the worries I once had.

Yo diría que la mayoría de mis temores podrían resumirse en lo siguiente: Tenía miedo de dejar ir lo que pensaba que quería para mi vida y de estar abierto a lo que Dios quisiera, incluso si eso significaba irme al seminario. Un ejemplo de este miedo sería dejar a mi familia. Vengo de una cultura muy orientada y dependientes de la familia y los hijo normalmente no dejan su hogar hasta que se casan. Junto con esto, estaba el hecho de que crecer y recibir una educación era muy importante porque a mis padres no se les dio esa oportunidad y querían que mis hermanos y yo la tuviéramos. Dicho esto, fue difícil para mí dejar a mi familia así como dejar la Universidad de Michigan-Dearborn donde estaba con una beca y pagaba el resto con el trabajo para ir al seminario donde no estaba 100 por ciento seguro de que Dios me estaba llamando a ser sacerdote. Afortunadamente, este miedo se supera con una profunda confianza en Dios y con fe en su Divina Voluntad. A medida que pasaron los años, me di cuenta de como Dios se había encargado de todas las preocupaciones que alguna vez tuve.

What attracts you about the priesthood?

While there are many things that attract me about the priesthood, I would like to focus on a few things. One of the things that has been recurring and has been an indication of my vocation is the Lord in prayer often says, “Love My people.” He has made it clear how broken and wounded His people are and how they desperately need spiritual fathers who direct them to their heavenly Father. This spiritual paternity attracts me in knowing how God uses broken vessels like myself to bring souls to Him through the gift of the sacraments. The priest is the humble means through which Jesus’ saving acts are made present in the world. The priest is the one who Incarnates Christ into the world we live in order to bring souls to Him. The priest is the one who knows that everything being offered to them is unmerited yet freely given out of love and requires an unconditional response of self. I’m also inspired by many priests who have given their lives completely over to Christ, especially the Mexican martyrs during the Cristero War. I am often overwhelmed with tears when thinking about how many people, especially priests, were killed, giving themselves completely, and ending their lives here on earth with these words on their lips, “Que Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long Live Christ King!”

Aunque hay muchas cosas que me atraen del sacerdocio, me gustaría centrarme en algunas. Una de las cosas que ha sido recurrente y ha sido una indicación de mi vocación es que el Señor en oración a menudo me dice: “Ama a mi pueblo”. Él ha dejado en claro cuán quebrantado y herido está su pueblo y cuán desesperadamente necesita padres espirituales que los dirijan a su Padre Celestial. Esta paternidad espiritual me atrae al saber como Dios usa vasos rotos como yo para traer almas a través del don de los sacramentos. El sacerdote es el medio humilde a través del cual los actos salvíficos de Jesús se hacen presentes en el mundo. El sacerdote es quien encarna a Cristo en el mundo en que vivimos para traer almas. El sacerdote es quien sabe que todo lo que se le ofrece es inmerecido, pero se da gratuitamente por amor y requiere una respuesta incondicional de uno mismo. El sacerdote es el medio humilde a través del cual los actos salvíficos de Jesús se hacen presentes en el mundo. El sacerdote es quien encarna a Cristo en el mundo en que vivimos para traer almas. El sacerdote es quien sabe que todo lo que se le ofrece es inmerecido, pero se da gratuitamente por amor y requiere una respuesta incondicional de uno mismo.

Finalmente, también me inspiran muchos sacerdotes que han entregado sus vidas completamente a Cristo, especialmente los mártires mexicanos durante la Guerra Cristera. Me invaden las lágrimas al pensar en cuántas personas, especialmente sacerdotes, fueron asesinadas, entregándose por completo y terminando su vida aquí en la tierra con estas palabras en los labios: “¡Que Viva Cristo Rey!”

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?

Besides God Almighty and Our Lady, there are a few people to thank for their assistance. First, my family who have instilled in me the love for the Catholic faith and have supported me throughout this journey in more ways than one. Second, my pastor, Fr. Charles Altermatt, who has truly been a spiritual father to me by demonstrating the beauty of the priesthood, and has guided me from the beginning of my call. Finally, the people of God and in a particular way, the people from St. Alfred, who have adopted me into their family, and assisted me throughout these years with their prayers, financial support, and overall love and faith for Jesus Christ. This includes all the priests and faculty at the seminary who work very hard in my formation.

Además de Dios Todopoderoso y Nuestra Señora, hay algunas personas a quienes agradecer por su ayuda. Primero, mi familia, que me ha inculcado el amor por la fe católica y me ha apoyado a lo largo de este viaje en más de un sentido. En segundo lugar, mi párroco, el Padre Charles Altermatt, quien verdaderamente ha sido un padre espiritual para mí, demostrando la belleza del sacerdocio y me ha guiado desde el comienzo de mi llamado. Finalmente, el pueblo de Dios, en particular el pueblo de San Alfredo, quienes me adoptaron en su familia y me ayudaron a lo largo de estos años con sus oraciones, apoyo financiero y, en general, su amor y fe en Jesucristo. Esto incluye a todos los sacerdotes y profesores del seminario que trabajan muy duro en mi formación.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?

As Pope Saint John Paul II once said, “Be not afraid!” No one ever loses anything when he gives everything to Christ! A life without Christ is not worth living so therefore the question one must ask is, “How does God want me to live this life for Him?”

The second piece of advice is to understand that discernment is about the next right step. No one goes from getting a call to being ordained the next day. Discernment is about moving towards something incrementally and listening to what God wants you to do every step of the way. That being said, look where you are at and ask “What is the next step?” This might be to talk to your parish priest about your call or contacting the vocations director for various resources or maybe it’s time to finally begin the application process. Discernment never ends! Every year I go back to the seminary I discern with more clarity what God desires, and the closer I get to ordination the greater my commitment becomes and the more firm I am in my decision.

Finally, but most importantly, is to continue your relationship with Jesus through various ways such as adoration, daily Mass, and/or spiritual readings, and of course your relationship with Our Lady, Mother of all priests.

Como dijo una vez el Papa San Juan Pablo II: “¡NO TENGAN MIEDO!”. Cuando alguien le da TODO a Cristo no pierde NADA. Una vida sin Cristo, no vale la pena vivirla por lo tanto la pregunta que uno debe hacerse es: “¿Cómo quiere Dios que viva esta vida para Él?”. El segundo consejo es comprender que el discernimiento se trata del siguiente paso correcto. Nadie pasa de recibir un llamado a ser ordenado al día siguiente. El discernimiento se trata de avanzar hacia algo gradualmente y escuchar lo que Dios quiere que hagas en cada paso del camino. Dicho esto, mire dónde se encuentra y pregunte “¿Cuál es el siguiente paso?”. Esto podría ser hablar con el párroco sobre su llamado o comunicarse con el director de vocaciones para obtener diversos recursos o tal vez sea hora de comenzar finalmente el proceso de solicitud. ¡El discernimiento nunca termina! Cada año que vuelvo al seminario discierno con más claridad lo que Dios quiere, y cuanto más me acerco a la ordenación, mayor es mi compromiso y más firme soy en mi decisión. Finalmente, y lo más importante, es continuar tu relación con Jesús a través de diversas formas como la adoración, la misa diaria y/o lecturas espirituales y, por supuesto, tu relación con Nuestra Señora, Madre de todos los sacerdotes.

Note: This interview was conducted when Father Schroder was still a seminarian

How did you experience God’s call to be a priest?
When I was in high school, the seminary hosted an evening dinner for altar servers. I didn’t know it was to tell the altar servers about priestly vocations. I remember the seminarian sharing his story about going to college and, after studying physics for four years, he still felt called to the priesthood. Little did he know that’s exactly what I wanted to study after high school as well. I’ve never had any visions of Jesus or the saints telling me what to do, but when I heard the words come out of the mouth of that seminarian it felt like God was saying: “I know what you want, but this will make you happy.”

It took a couple years after that simple dinner conversation, but eventually I applied to be a seminarian.

How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you entered seminary?
As a kid my view of Jesus was simply ethical. Jesus either liked or didn’t like what I did. As I grew up I began to realize that Jesus wanted to show me how to live all parts of my life, to pour over into all my relationships and interests. Since entering seminary, I have been able to grow to know that Christ is always with us — with me — in all I do. Whether I’m typing a paper for class, serving at Mass, reading the news, or getting together with classmates, Jesus is always there. Learning to increase our awareness of this is key to being a disciple, and even more so for a priest, who represents Jesus in a particular way in everything he does.

Did you have any fears about pursuing the call to the priesthood? If so, how did you overcome them?
There were definitely a lot of unknowns when entering seminary. How long was it really going to take? How expensive will it be? Where in the metro-detroit area will I even end up? Will I ever see my family on holidays again? What conquered these anxieties early on was the peace I got from saying yes to God’s call to the priesthood. I remember making the resolution to fill out the application and thinking, “Lord, I have no idea what will happen in the next seven or eight years. But you’ve taken care of me this far, and that’s all the evidence I need to know you will take care of me in the future.”

What attracts you about the priesthood?
After that initial dinner conversation I mentioned earlier, I started going to Mass and Confession more frequently. And it was experiencing the love of God through the sacraments that made me want to share such grace with others. I wanted to bring the sacraments to others. I didn’t just want to bring stories of Jesus to others I met, I wanted to bring Jesus Himself.

Who has helped you the most on your journey to pursue this vocation?
There are so many people I’m indebted to for their support. First, my parents, who neither pulled nor pushed me but only wanted my good. Secon, all the priests who taught me a priest doesn’t just work on Sundays and that they’re actually human too. They showed me that being a priest was something I could actually do. Next would be the seminary, which itself is a place for discerning God’s call, as well as the other seminarians studying here and all the faithful throughout the Detroit Archdiocese who support us. Finally, without the help of our heavenly Father, I couldn’t have even made it past the first step.

Do you have any advice for young men considering a vocation to the priesthood?
Many times we want to be clear and we want God’s voice to be obvious. My advice is that God works through the ordinary things in our life. What kicked off my journey to the priesthood was a seminarian telling me he had previously studied what I wanted to study in college. It wasn’t some sky-parting voice from heaven type of ordeal; it was one sentence in a conversation that I don’t even remember the rest of. A second piece of advice is to go to Mass and Confession more. It’s best to consider your vocation while living in a consistent state of grace received from the sacraments. Finally, know that the seminary is a place of discernment, you don’t have to be 100% sure before applying.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
Being able to celebrate the Eucharist.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
I would encourage him to start to pray now about what God wants him to do with his life. For so many young people today, including myself, discernment and taking these things to prayer wasn't something that was commonly talked about. So men, at a younger age, try and learn how to pray, schedule your prayer time, on a regular basis, and develop a relationship with Jesus. At that point, you can start to pose questions to Jesus: what Lord do you want me to do with my life, what vocation are you calling me to, what college do you want me to apply to and so on. My best advice for a young man today would be to start that process of prayerful discernment and have a disciplined prayer life. Without having to overthink it, discernment is naturally going to happen, as long as you have that relationship with Christ through a dedicated prayer life.

How can people at your parish best support you?
They can enter into intercessory prayer; prayer is the most powerful thing. In addition, lately, it's been placed on my heart, to really try to encourage the people to come to Eucharistic adoration. I'm trying to teach the community what adoration is, and, in addition to that, why you should desire it. If we had a full community of people who love Jesus and wanted to come spend time in Eucharistic adoration with Him, not only would that support me, it would also support the entire parish, the entire Archdiocese, and the entire universal Catholic Church. So again, it kind of goes back to a disciplined prayer life. Pope St. John Paul II said that "parishes need to be schools of prayer." Priests should really dedicate quality time in their preaching to try and teach people how to pray and maybe focus on different forms of prayer. The highest form of prayer would be Eucharistic adoration, so that would be the best way for people to support me. Once they pray, then the Holy Spirit prompts them into action and now they have a desire to serve. But if you don't have that foundation of prayer first, then you truly don't know the next step to take.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
One way I see the Holy Spirit working powerfully is through the laity and their dedication to prayer and their commitment to growth in holiness. It's been so inspiring as a priest. There are people who have full-time careers, full-time jobs who are also raising families who are at church, praying before the Blessed Sacrament and volunteering at the parish. It's inspiring to see how the laity give of their time and talent. I've been assigned only to parishes that have schools, so I see another level of sacrifice with parents sacrificing to pay tuition to have their children in a Catholic school because they want faith formation and their young ones to be raised and formed as disciples of Christ. To see that commitment has been very inspiring. The Holy Spirit is inspiring my parishioners to offer up prayers and sacrifices.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I wanted certitude that Jesus was calling me to become one of His priests and that took a lot of time. It took years to come to that realization with certitude that God was calling me to become a priest. It happened in a dramatic moment for me. I entered seminary in 2005; I left seminary in 2008, so I spent three years discerning my call to the priesthood. And I came to the conclusion then that I was called to be a husband and father instead, so I exited seminary on good terms. I was away from the seminary for two years, and it was during that two-year hiatus in which the thought of priesthood was still on my mind. I felt this feeling that maybe He really is calling me to become a priest. And the reality was that I really had to discern which of those were my feelings and thoughts and which were His, so it had to do with proper discernment.

During that two-year hiatus, I started to work at a nursing home as a certified nurse's assistant. I was in that job for maybe six months, and I ended up working the midnight shift taking care of a resident who was on hospice. He was a double amputee, and he had cancer. He was on comfort care, wasn't able to speak, and was legally deaf. It turns out he was a priest. And one of the nurses you knew my history of being in the seminary said, "John, it might be nice if you took care of Fr. Harry." She told me he probably isn't going to respond to me since he has been days without food and drink and is slowly dying. I thought it would be an honor to take care of a priest in his last moments. In the course of the night when I was taking care of him, he wasn't really engaged with me at all. He couldn't even open his eyes. I would try and talk with him, saying: "Father, I used to be in the seminary." I figured if I talked to him and shared with him my vocation story, maybe he would perk up. And there was nothing; he didn't say anything.

Right before I was getting ready to clock out for the day, I went back into his room and said, "Father, I know you can't hear me; I just want to ask you to pray for me, pray for my vocation. I was in the seminary; I felt God was calling me to be a priest. And then at some point, I felt that I didn't know if I wanted to become a priest. And now here I am, almost two years later, thinking maybe I want to be a priest. I just don't know what God wants for me." And Fr. Harry started speaking, saying, "John, I heard everything that you had to say, and Our Lord and Savior is calling you to be a priest. Now go back to the seminary." I left the room, and I got the nurse and said, "Hey, I got Father to say something, maybe we can talk to him and see if we can get him to eat something." But by the time we got back into the room, he was unresponsive like before. I left work that morning, and Fr. Harry died within a matter of hours. To answer the question, when did I know for certain that God was calling me to the priesthood, it was Him speaking through Fr. Harry in that dramatic moment. However, I took my time with it, saw a spiritual director, explained that story to him, and started to have confidence that God was calling me to be a priest.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
It requires patience and perseverance; my discernment process took years and during that process, it was a roller-coaster. At one point, I felt that Jesus was calling me, and at another point, I felt He wasn't. And then mixed in with all that, there were times I wanted to be a priest and times that I really thought I wanted to be a husband and father. And so you need patience and perseverance and also a spiritual director who is going to be able to help accompany you on that discernment journey. Sometimes we want Jesus to answer our questions real quick, but it certainly requires patience and perseverance to be able to properly discern your vocation or calling in life.

What is your full name?
Fr. Mario Vincent Amore

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am Moderator of the In Solidum team of priests leading the Resurget Cineribus Family of Parishes which includes St. Aloysius, Old St. Mary’s, and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, all in Detroit. I principally serve downtown at St. Aloysius.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
The greatest gift of the priesthood are the people — those that I am privileged to work with and those that I serve.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
The priesthood is a life full of beauty, adventure, joy, and some heartache, too. Our own unworthiness is a constant reminder that the goodness of God overflows to us as he calls us to be his co-workers.

How can people at your parish best support you?
I love my parishioners! They best support me not only me by their prayers but also by their willingness to be involved in the building up of our community.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see and experience the Holy Spirit calling us to outward focused mission — pushing us outside of our comfort zones and returning to the basics of evangelization!

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
My story doesn’t involve one particular moment. There were, rather, a series of movements of the Holy Spirit beginning as an altar server in elementary school, working in campus ministry in high school, and then getting involved with youth and music ministry as a young adult. All of these moments brought me into deeper discernment and greater love for the Church.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
Be attentive to the movements of your heart in prayer and the encouragement of those around you. In the end, it will involve a leap of faith to “come and see.” Discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life will never be time wasted.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
Being an instrument of the healing power of Jesus Christ in people’s lives. It is amazing to see God work through me to bring about real conversion, healing, and peace in the souls of His people during confession and by praying with them.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Pray! There are so many voices competing for your attention. In order to hear the voice of God, you have to get away from the screens and the noise. Taking the time to pray every day is critical for being able to discern where God is calling you. It also helps in becoming the man that God wants you to be, and not who others want you to be.

How can people at your parish best support you?
A word of encouragement really goes a long way. With the identity of the priesthood under so much attack, it is greatly appreciated to have people affirm the priesthood, and what we do as priests to lead people to Christ.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I believe the Holy Spirit is working in the Archdiocese of Detroit by raising up a generation of young people who are discovering the Catholic faith for themselves. I see a new fervor and love for the Lord in these people, and am encouraged for the future of our local church.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
There were about 11 years between the first moment I thought God might be calling me to the priesthood and the first moment I knew God was calling me to the priesthood. Even after that, the Lord had to confirm his calling in my heart. I was given a great confidence in my vocation by God’s grace, after spending so much time begging Him to show me what path to take in my life. I was thinking about my fears, those thoughts which kept me from moving forward with a decision about my vocation. When I brought those fears to the Lord, and said them out loud, Jesus gave me the courage to overcome them. At that moment, I realized that my fears were keeping me from seeing my vocation, and I knew God was calling me to the priesthood.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
A vocation to the religious life or priesthood is just as much a calling to intimacy as it is a calling to service and sacrifice. We often think about what one is giving up by following a call to the religious life or priesthood, but a life of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom allows for the possibility of an incredible closeness with the Lord. There is no need to fear loneliness. Jesus provides and His grace is enough.

What is your full name?
Fr. Eric William Fedewa

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am pastor of St. Basil the Great in Eastpointe.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
It is the sense of being a spiritual father to so many people.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Make sure you remember that if Jesus is calling you, then He will provide everything you need to carry out the vocation.

How can people at your parish best support you?
They can support me with their prayers and being willing to give of their time for the parish.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
A greater sense of reverence for the Holy Mass seems to be growing across the Archdiocese.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I was at adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and had been asked to pray about the priesthood a few weeks before, but I did not desire it at the time. Something had happened that day which I was very distraught about, so I just told Jesus, while looking at Him in the Blessed Sacrament, “Ok, you can show me for real if you are calling me to the priesthood!” After that evening, I was given a stronger and stronger sense that I was called to the priesthood and a desire for it.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
Finding marriage attractive does not necessarily mean you do not have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, in fact, it is a good sign since marriage is such a foundational vocation and the majority of Catholics are called to it. However, discerning a vocation is about asking the Lord to show you which of these good vocations you are called to since you only have one vocation for which God created you.

What is your full name?
Fr. Christopher David Muer

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am currently Associate Pastor at St. Peter Parish in Mount Clemens.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
One of the greatest gifts about being a priest is being able to walk with people in their journey of Faith and administering the Sacraments to the people of God. As a priest, people invite you into their lives in the most emotional, difficult, and beautiful moments of life. It is very humbling. I know that they are not inviting me or trusting me as a person, but it is as a priest, as the one standing in the person of Christ. That is who they are inviting in, and it is the greatest privilege of my life.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Relax. I think the trouble can be when we build up in our heads what we think the journey to a vocation should look like, when we try to fit a mold of what we think a seminarian or a priest is, or what we think others think it is. It is important to remember that God is not asking you to be like that guy or to do it the same way your favorite saint did it. For God calls each of us differently, and He has created each of us differently, thank God. Therefore, we need to try to become the holiest version of who God created us to be by seeking His mercy, striving for a deep prayer life, and asking for the grace of humility. There is no set time frame for the journey to realizing your vocation. Enjoy the journey with Christ and discern well.

How can people at your parish best support you?
When my people tell me that they are praying for me, it brightens my day, and I can feel the power of their prayers. The best thing people can do for their priests and future priests is to pray for them. Pray they may be guided by the Holy Spirit as a shepherd of souls. We will never fully understand the power of our prayers for others. Let us continue to build each other up in prayer, especially that we might be open to the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit in the way we are inviting the Holy Spirit to work. God does not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in and give Him permission to work. That is what we have done with the Holy Spirit. We continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we are beginning to see the fruits of our prayers. The faithful are responding to the invitation of the Spirit to be the band of joyful missionary disciples that Christ is inviting us to be.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
This is a question I get often as a priest, and it is a difficult one to answer because for me it wasn't like I woke up one morning and just knew. The calling was subtle at first and was heard over many years. It grew in clarity, and there were times it seemed to grow in confusion. First, I was being called to draw closer to Christ and when I began to do that, I started asking God what He wanted for my life and everything changed. Once, I started to ask God what He wanted for my life and what He was calling me to, then I could be open to a vocation to the priesthood. I first heard the call to consider and look into a vocation to priesthood when I was a sophomore in college. At the time I first considered a call, I did not really know what it would take to become a seminarian or what the road of priesthood would look like. It is important to note that I did not become a seminarian for another three years. During that time, I started talking with others about a possible vocation: my girlfriend at the time, my family, my friends, and the director of priestly vocations. It is important to remember a vocation is not discerned or realized overnight; it takes time. Be patient with yourself and with God. The key is having an open heart.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
What is important about discerning a vocation is understanding that a vocation is not what we do, it is coming to understand who it is God has created us to be. I came to realize the first step in the discernment of my vocation was asking God to show me, but it still took effort on my part as well. There is nothing lost by giving God time to reveal our vocation to us. Sometimes, we are afraid to admit to ourselves or to others that we might be interested or discerning a vocation to the priesthood because we are afraid of pressure or what they might think of us. Take courage. The best way to do that is with others: priests, family, director of priestly vocations, and friends. I got to the point where I was going back and forth on marriage and priesthood and decided it was ridiculous. I did not want to go through life always wondering if I should have been a priest. So I decided to apply, and the rest is history. I think the temptation is we tell ourselves that we need to know one hundred percent we are going to be priests before we enter seminary. This is not the case. The seminary is where you go to help you to discern that calling. Seminary gives you time to spend in prayer, asking God if this is the vocation for you. If God is calling you, He will never stop calling. Be patient with yourself and with God.

What is your full name?
Fr. Jacob Adam VanAssche

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am pastor of St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
To bring souls to the love of their lives: Jesus. I summarized the gift of celebrating the Sacraments into that sentence. Everything I do, I want it to bring souls to Jesus. Celebrating the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, preparing our children in religious education, youth group, and spiritual direction all point others to the love of their lives: Jesus. Even when I do the things I like the least — working on a budget, writing responses to these questions, and working at my desk — I hope it all only points others and helps them encounter the love of Jesus.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
You will never regret discerning the priesthood. If God is calling you, He is calling you; don't worry and be afraid of how it happens. Seminary is great at helping to form and discern.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Pray for me, please.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit guiding us to step out in faith. Since there are no bystanders, all of us must respond together to step out in faith.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
The first time I thought the priesthood was a possibility was when I was seven or eight years old; my pastor told me. I didn't really know God was calling me to the priesthood for sure until a few years into seminary.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
If you're looking for an adventure, you've found one. Discerning your vocation in a spirit of openness to the Father's call is an adventure of a lifetime. Even though I am no longer discerning the call to the priesthood, the gift of priesthood is another beautiful adventure that we journey on throughout our lives.

What is your full name?
Fr. Matthew Hood

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am the Chaplain for Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, which serves Wayne State University, University of Michigan – Dearborn, and the surrounding campuses.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
It is following God's will for my life, being a minister of the Lord's mercy, and seeing the power of God's grace at work in people's lives.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
I would recommend finding a spiritual director to talk to about discernment and begin making a daily habit of prayer.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Please pray for the college students that we serve. Young people today are looking for answers and most often looking to things that will not satisfy the deepest desires of their heart. The work of sharing the Gospel with college students is challenging but also incredibly important.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
We are still in a time of receiving the graces of Synod 16 and Unleash the Gospel. While challenges do lie ahead, the only answer is to resolve ourselves to living in a missionary mindset.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I was in the adoration chapel at my home parish, St. Joseph in Lake Orion, and I was praying with the Scripture passage about Jesus calling the disciples along the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus said, "come and follow me" it was clear that he was talking to me and calling me to follow him as a priest.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
Beg the Lord for a greater awareness and openness to his will for your life. God's plans for your life are infinitely greater than anything that you might have in mind. If you don't offer him the freedom to show you those plans, then you will never know how God is calling you to follow him.

What is your full name?
Fr. Zaid Chabaan

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
Celebrating the sacraments and bringing Jesus to the people of God.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Be open and get advice from priests.

How can people at your parish best support you?
They can support me with their prayers and letting parishioners know when a man from our parish is discerning.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
The Holy Spirit is calling us to move forward in faith to bring the Gospel message in a different way, particularly with our Families of Parishes. The Holy Spirit is calling us to work together in a more intentional way to share the Gospel.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I first knew God was calling me to the priesthood while serving at the Lord's Altar at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
Stay open, speak with a priest, be involved in your parish, and attend a Discernment Program.

What is your full name?
Fr. Grayson Dodge Heenan

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am the Parochial Vicar for St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rochester, MI, serving the wider Rochester Area Catholic Family of Parishes.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
My life is immersed in the Sacred Mystery of God's work. I get a privileged front-row view of His grace working in people's lives. To mediate between God and his people, whether that be in the Sacraments or in "sacramental" encounters, is the greatest gift. It has long been my hope and my prayer that, as a priest, it might be Christ Jesus alive in me, working in me (Galatians 2:20).

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Read your desires: do you feel an attraction or some kind of desire to be a priest? Be open to the possibility that this is God already at work in you, God the Master of Hearts who forms our desires.

How can people at your parish best support you?
People can best support me through prayer; friendship; and through their own lives as searchers, disciples, and missionaries, embodying and "incarnating" Christ the Friend in their lives "outside" the Church.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
The Holy Spirit is always up to something. He is ever inviting us to be "born again." Am I open to this or am I opposing it as a man of Catholic communion? The transition to Families of Parishes seems to be His latest invitation.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I was nine years old and at Mass with my mom. Watching the priest, I felt a Presence suggest "that will be you one day."

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
God speaks in the heart, and He speaks through others. Be a good and generous listener!

What is your full name?
Fr. Kevin Joseph Roelant

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am currently Pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit and serve the Family of Parishes here. Starting July 1, I will be the Pastor of St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township and will also serve the Family of Parishes there.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
It is being a minister of God's grace, salvation, and new life in the sacraments.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
God desires our yes, our surrender. He calls us to a life of holiness and a life in him. Spend much time in prayer and silence, listening to Jesus. He will guide you and give you peace. God wants to give us joy and life. If priesthood is your calling, God will you give happiness and joy.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Pray for me! Pray that I become the man and priest of faith and holiness I am called to be. Offer your Divine Mercy Chaplet, your Rosary, your prayers of intercession, and offer a Mass. Pray in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads you for your priest.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I believe when we prayed as a local church for the Holy Spirit for Synod 16, the Holy Spirit came in a powerful way and is continuing to come and work. I believe the Holy Spirit is purifying and renewing our local Church.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
About the time I was a senior in high school, I had a profound encounter with Jesus at a Steubenville Youth Conference. A few months back, I really started to pray more and take my faith life more seriously. In my prayer, God put a desire to live for him alone and a love for the priesthood. He put a love to spread the Gospel and for the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. God put a desire to be a priest and his minister, and there was a joy, peace, and happiness there.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
As mentioned earlier, God desires our yes, our surrender. We are called to a life of faith and holiness. That is our vocation. God wants to fill us with his peace, his joy, and his happiness. Whatever vocation or state in life God calls us to, whether that is to the single life, married life, religious life, or priesthood, we will use the gifts and talents he has given us to serve, and we will be joyful and happy.

What is your full name?
Fr. David Ryan Bechill

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
Pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd in Lincoln Park

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
The greatest gift of being a priest is being able to celebrate the Sacraments and help people find the presence of God in their daily lives and be faithful to it.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Fidelity to the spiritual life is so important for discerning a vocation to the priesthood. The more you know Jesus the more you will know what He is asking of you. So don't try to come up with reasons for why or why you shouldn't be a priest because you will find so many for or against.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Pray and fast for priests. We have a tough job, and it is not for the faint of heart!

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit working in the AOD through so many committed Catholics who love Jesus and His Church and are not afraid to enflesh their faith.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I wouldn't say that there was a particular moment I knew God was calling me to be a priest. In my adolescence, it was always a quiet but firm desire. But the moment that confirmed this desire came while praying in front of the Tabernacle at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on a Discernment Weekend around 2003, and the Lord asked me to place my heart on the paten with Him in sacrifice.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
The most fundamental vocation we have is holiness. It's the thing that binds every single one of us whether we are married, in religious life, or a priest. Looking back at my own experience of discernment, I think we all experience a temptation to be happy, successful, and "make an impact." The older I get the more I find myself realizing the Lord is asking us for fidelity, not success.

What is your full name?
Fr. Paul Michael Snyder

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am a family pastor in South Oakland Vicariate Family 4, primarily at St. Mary in Royal Oak, and the Moderator of the Family.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
The greatest gift about being a priest is helping people to recognize that what their hearts are really searching for is Jesus.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
I would encourage a young man discerning the priesthood to spend time in daily prayer, in the presence of the Eucharist if possible, and to be patient. Understanding what God wants from us comes in the context of a relationship with Him.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Parishioners can best support priests with their prayers, asking the Lord how He wants them to serve their parish.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit building up a strong sense of the mission to share the Gospel in the Archdiocese of Detroit. There is also a strong community of young adult Catholics who are seeking deep relationships with the Lord and want to live out their faith with conviction.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
After I was asking God what He wanted from me for some time in prayer, there was a moment at Christmas Mass when I had a deep conviction that I was being invited to talk to a priest about entering the seminary. The words, "What more are you waiting for?" were placed on my heart. That was a powerful moment when I first had a clear sense that the Lord was inviting me into a priestly vocation. Much more discernment happened in the years in the seminary that followed.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
God is inviting you into something that is more amazing than you could ever think up on your own. Don’t be afraid of what He might ask of you.

What is your full name?
Fr. Andrew John Dawson

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
St. Joan of Arc in Saint Clair Shores

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
Being in a position to witness the faith of God's people can be really quite humbling. It is evident in their willingness to bring to me, standing in the place of Christ, some of their deepest struggles and joys, not at all because of me, but because of their faith in Jesus Christ. And it never ceases to amaze and surprise me that the Lord allows me to stand before a congregation and be His mouthpiece, and that He works through me in the celebration of the Eucharist.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
You can discern, pray, and think yourself to the point of never committing to step out into the deep and allow the Lord to show you what He has in mind for you. But those early steps, talking with a priest or attending a Discernment Weekend are not any kind of commitment. Even entering a program of formation or beginning a seminary program is simply opening yourself up to the grace of God in assisting you to discover the awesome plans He has for you, whether that be priesthood, religious life, single life, or marriage and family life. Discerning a vocation sincerely — with God's help and the help of priests, a formation team to support you, and brothers who are also discerning — can only lead to a good outcome.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Prayer is an obvious answer, but it means more than people know! Thank you for those prayers. Keep coming to Mass and Confession and invite others! In the midst of all the difficulties our world presents, people's commitment to the sacraments, sometimes in the most trying of circumstances gives me hope. They recognize that the moments in which it is hardest to see God at work are precisely when we need God the most. Faith is tested in fire. It is inspiring to see.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
Certainly, through the intercession of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey. But I am constantly amazed at the generosity of so many lay staff and volunteers within our parishes who work tirelessly in parish ministry — many, many hours, unpaid or under-paid, because they have taken up the call to go on mission and they passionately care about the people of God. I think too of the uncounted blessings and answers to prayer that are the result of the many hours of Adoration being offered in the Archdiocese around the clock.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I vividly recall sitting bolt upright in bed one night, in the early hours of the morning. I had only been a Catholic a few months but people had been suggesting I should be a priest. Out of apparently nowhere, that night, came the realization of why I had never responded to any of those suggestions or had brushed them off with a joke. I suddenly knew that it was because I had been unwittingly asking myself the same question. But the first time I knew one hundred percent that God was calling me to be His priest was as I got up off the floor after the Litany of Saints during my Diaconate Ordination and sat in the deacon's chair. My ninety-nine-point whatever percent I knew was now one hundred percent. It just seemed right. When you step over the gap in faith, God will bridge it for you.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
If the idea doesn't go away, at some point you must give God a chance and take that step, maybe into a formation program. After that, don't allow the discernment to take the lead. The first priority must be your relationship with God. Grow that, and God will show you His love for you and your desire for Him in response. That will help you know His plan for you. Discernment is primarily about relationship, not vocation. A vocation is the fruit of a better knowledge and understanding of that relationship. It took me two years of seminary to understand that — I wasted a lot of energy on the impossible task of trying to "figure out" my vocation up to that point, as though we can ever "figure out" the mind of God. Don't try to figure out your vocation — Let God show you!

What is your full name?
Fr. Adam Nowak

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
Parochial Vicar at St. Frances Cabrini in Allen Park

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
The greatest gift of being a priest is being with others in the most intimate moments of their lives: in the confessional, when a loved one dies, at a wedding, etc. The absolute love that people have for their priests can be beautifully overwhelming at times!

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
Simply keep asking God what He wants for your life, and don't stop asking until you get an answer! But that's only the first step… once He answers, pray for the courage to accept what He is asking of you.

How can people at your parish best support you?
They can support me with prayer and encouragement! Being a priest is amazing but not always easy. A few words of encouragement and a reminder of one's prayers can make a big difference in the day of a priest.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
It's very clear to me that the Holy Spirit is working overtime in our Archdiocese. As we move toward Families of Parishes, I can see how the Holy Spirit is raising up lay leaders and priests as we realign for mission.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I never really thought about the priesthood until I was at the end of high school and beginning of college. My friend, now Fr. Mario Amore, had decided to enter seminary. I was so ignorant at that time that I didn't even know that men still did that. However, I began to ask God what He wanted for my life and after a lot of prayer and quiet time, I finally heard Him saying in the quiet recesses of my heart, "be a priest."

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
It's difficult, but don't let that deter you from discerning nor impede you from making a decision. Discernment is a process that you'll never truly be finished with, so just take the first step and then one step at a time after that. You should also find a mentor or someone with whom you can share your thoughts.

What is your full name?
Fr. James Michael Houbeck

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am currently the Associate Pastor of St. Anastasia in Troy, MI.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
One of the greatest gifts of being a priest is the ability to point people to Jesus for salvation, love, grace and mercy. I do this in the Mass, in the Confessional, and wherever the Lord calls me!

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
I always share the words of Our Savior and of St. John Paul II: "Do not be afraid." If Jesus is calling you, be generous in considering His invitation and follow Him boldly.

How can people at your parish best support you?
The people of St. Anastasia can best support me by praying for me, specifically: That I may be a holy priest of Jesus Christ; that the joy God has placed in my soul may never waver; that Jesus may shine in me and my ministry.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit bringing the light of Jesus Christ into the hearts of those trying to navigate the darkness in our times. I feel that there are a lot of messages of darkness in our society (fear, anxiety, rebellion, mistrust) that can cause Catholic hearts to waver, but the Holy Spirit brings us into the truth of Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the One that makes the Lord’s words in the Gospel of John a living reality: "Remain in Me as I remain in you."

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I was studying to be a teacher at Oakland University, and I was one year away from my degree. I was sitting in class and listening to a stark presentation on the many difficulties of being a teacher, and as I listened my desire to teach disappeared. I felt a sense of panic and chaos, questioning what I was going to do. I then heard a voice (one I had heard a few times before, actually): "What about the priesthood?" I paused and said, "What about it? Is this what you want for me, Lord Jesus?" I felt a great sense of peace and calm arrive, and so I picked up my books and left the class.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
Be open to what God desires, not just simply what you want. On the one hand, be very clear and explicit in telling God what you want and what you desire. On the other hand, ask the Lord what He desires for you.

What is your full name?
Fr. Mark Andrew Tibai

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion, MI

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
There are many faithful people who are genuinely trying to live closely to Jesus, but they are struggling because the world, the flesh, and the devil make this very difficult. The devil and the world tell them that a life lived for Jesus is too hard and they should just take pleasure in what the devil and the world have to offer. As a priest, I can help them through confession, counsel, and bringing them Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
There is nothing to lose in discerning the priesthood! If God is calling you to be a priest, it is because He believes that you will be a good shepherd in the world to bring souls to Him. This is profound and something you shouldn't disregard lightly. The life of a priest is filled with joys, but it is also becoming more difficult as more people drift away from any sort of relationship with our Lord. God will provide for you each step of the way as you discern, and He will provide for you if you say yes to the great journey that is the Catholic priesthood!

How can people at your parish best support you?
Praying for me in very specific ways, especially entrusting me to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Also, asking St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, to intercede for me. It is also nice to be invited into parishioners' lives beyond a simple "hello" after Mass. Something as small as inviting me to dinner means a lot to me as a priest as I try to get to know my parishioners!

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
We are in tough times here in the Archdiocese. I see the Holy Spirit moving us to face these challenges so that the Catholic Church in Southeast Michigan can be more united to bring the Good News to God's people.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
I first felt the call around fourth grade. It was a journey of many joys and difficulties after that first thought of the priesthood entered my mind!

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
You cannot discern a vocation without prayer! I remember a time several years back when I asked a group of Catholic high school seniors if they had prayed about the college they were going to attend next year. Almost none of them raised their hands. This shows how much work we must do in teaching how to discern in general, but especially in discerning a vocation. You will be most happy if you follow the specific vocation God has planned for you, but God often is not going to part the clouds and speak from the heavens to let you know what it is. God wants you to pray, ask questions, reflect, talk to others, and so on. This is what it means to discern. Through the quiet voice of God that comes to you in prayer, you will see whether God is calling you to be a priest, a religious brother or sister, or to get married. You will never regret working with our loving Savior to determine what your vocation in life will be.

What is your full name?
Fr. Colin Michael Egon Fricke

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
St. Anastasia Parish in Troy, MI

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
A deeper share in the life of the Trinity, especially evidenced by ministering the Sacraments.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
When the yearnings of my heart began to match more and more (not perfectly) the desires of Jesus’ heart for His people, I was drawn more and more into Adoration. It was here, before Jesus in the Tabernacle, that I was better able to discern the purpose of God for my life.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Through their commitment to Jesus, His love, and the Truth revealed by Jesus and handed on through the Catholic Church.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
The Archdiocese has made it their mission to be on mission. This requires a reorientation of resources to fulfill the mission of making disciples of all nations.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
It was more a gradual process for me, but looking back I can see God’s invitation showing up again at different times of my life. By the time I went on my first discernment weekend, I was fairly convinced God was calling me to the priesthood.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
God’s plan and purpose for your life is way better than your own purpose or plan. Deeply ingrained in each of us is the task of entrusting ourselves to another in a complete gift of self. Ultimately we are all called to entrust ourselves to Jesus (most easily through Mary!), and this entrustment generally takes shape through a religious vocation or marriage. In fact, in the Sacrament of Matrimony, the two become an image of Christ and the Church. But within every vocation, God has a personal mission for each person. This personal mission is something we discover and is tied to who we are as a person, with our desires, talents, personality and all. Discerning a vocation is discovering the Will of God active in our very own heart. Adoration is key!