I come from a devout Catholic family. During my teenage years, I slowly drifted away from the Faith. At 18 I had a reversion to the Faith through the Jesus Youth movement and was actively involved since then.
In 2011, I had a profound experience with Our Lord during a retreat in London. Following this experience, my prayer life deepened, and I started attending the sacrifice of the Holy Mass on a daily basis.
One particular afternoon, while in a chapel at my workplace after the Holy Mass, I heard a voice from deep within asking me to be a priest. Initially, I did not entertain the prospect of pursuing the priesthood because I assumed it was just a thought, and sidelined the idea for a long time, as it was not anything I ever really considered.
I had my life mapped out: I wanted to get married and live a content life as a layman. However, the priestly calling grew stronger. I sought spiritual direction and slowly began to accept that God is calling me. It was not easy initially, but I understood that my purpose in life could only be fulfilled in conformity with God’s will for me. Hence, by God’s grace, I was able to take that leap of faith and set things in motion.
Some aspects of seminary have exceeded my expectations, whilst others are different to what I had expected at first.
I love the community at Oscott. I have great friends and companions who always support me in everything I do. There is also a great and spiritually conducive ambience which makes it easy to pray. I love praying the divine office as a community, culminating in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass.
When it comes to studies, I am not intellectually gifted but I love certain subjects and enjoy the challenge of other subjects which require more of an effort from me. Some days are very packed and tiring and it can be challenging to fit everything into my schedule, but prioritising what is necessary and sometimes saying ‘no’ can help make things less overwhelming.
The seminary is a great community of friendship and fellowship, where we are all encouraged to grow, mainly in holiness and as individuals to strive to become an Alter Christus (another Christ). Every aspect of our day is directed towards this goal.
Personally, the pastoral placements where I serve on Thursdays and Sundays provide a sense of clarity in my vocation.
On Thursdays, I go to a nearby hospital and thoroughly enjoy the time spent with patients. The opportunity to spiritually nourish them with the Body of Christ, converse and actively listen to them, is something unparalleled and very touching.
On Sundays I go to the Cathedral where I engage with the parish community. Being in a seminary is quite a different setting from that of a parish and so what you experience as a seminarian can be different from full-time sacramental pastoral life. Meeting parishioners, being a part of a parish community, and engaging in real-life issues with the faithful all contribute to my discernment and I get a sense of what is to come.
My advice to you if you are thinking about the Catholic priesthood would be to take it easy.
There’s nothing wrong with taking time to explore and pray about your feelings and vocation, for God is always with you. I love the quote by St. John Paul II, “Don’t be afraid to be Saints of the new millennium.” Simply put, that’s what it’s about.
Ask God in prayer to reveal His purpose for you. If He has given you a desire to be a priest, then give it a go and see what it can be like in actuality. Don’t be afraid to jump, to take that leap of faith. You'll realise it is not as intimidating as you think it is.
Have a daily routine of prayer and meditate on the Scriptures so that you can obtain clarity on your vocation. And, perhaps, try visiting different religious orders or even come and stay for a few days at Oscott to experience what it’s like in the seminary. You’ve got nothing to lose and it’s all to gain with God.