While in the recent seminarian appeal video there was an appearance of a priest out of thin air, the vocational journey of a man towards the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is not random nor sudden. Certainly, there is a suddenness that appears at times when we hear the Lord calling us into further relationship with Him and to serve Him as a priest. We are called out of whatever we were currently doing and stepping into a deeper, and more enriching life once we choose to answer that call. It is a long journey, but one that is well worthwhile! Many men come directly from high school, while others immediately after college, and others perhaps entered the workforce. In any case, God meets these men where they are at, in the context of their lives. No priest or seminarian is a copy of another!
The vocational journey of a man to become a priest takes many years and is a process of discernment. The discernment is crucial as it takes prayer, reflection, and guidance from the Bride of Christ, His Church, to know if God is calling one to be a priest. The gates of the seminary do not close behind the man once he enters. Presumption that a man can simply choose to be a priest is not the proper way to walk the vocational journey. It takes humility, docility, authenticity, courage, trust, and love for the Crucified Messiah and the Bride whom He died for.
In the document produced by the Second Vatican Council, Presbyterorum Ordinis (“Order of Priests”), priests “must take the lead in seeking the things of Jesus Christ, not the things that are their own…They must work together with the lay faithful, and conduct themselves in their midst after the example of their Master…”
As a newly ordained priest, Priesthood Sunday, the final Sunday of September, is a celebration of honoring the Priesthood of Jesus Christ that my brother priests and I have been called to participate in. It is a blessing that brings great responsibility of taking care of souls, serving as companions with the People of God, and all the joys brought about from the journey, even amidst all the trials. It is a time that celebrates the hard work of priests who live their lives as a continual sacrifice, striving to imitate Our Lord as stated above by the council.
The sacficial dimension of the priest is something I hope to continue to focus on in future ministry for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. Every day is an opportunity to lay down our lives for the People of God, as we literally did so on the floor of the Cathdral at our respective ordinations. The sacrifice will take many forms as a priest, but that only enables us to be better spiritual fathers and further proves, in the words of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, “we are not our own, we are His.”