To Priest or Not to Priest, that is the Question?

On the weekend of April 15th to the 17th I joined a group of 8 Auburn students, 2 FOCUS Missionaries-Matt and Andrew, and Fr. Jim, on a “Come and See” weekend at St. Joseph's Seminary College in Covington, LA. It was encouraging to see that there were over 50 other men in my similar state of discernment from several different Dioceses in the south This was a new experience for me. For the first three years of college I was not very in touch with my unique Catholic faith. Then I started to get involved with FOCUS and the CSO. When Matt and Fr. Jim told us about a “come and see weekend retreat” to the Seminary College I was skeptical about going. At first, I thought there was no way I would even consider becoming a Priest. Initially 16 men signed up to go, seeing so many of my peers sign up also helped to open me up. I attended the informational meeting, prayed, and then I decided that even if this is not what I think that God is calling me to do, it was worth going and seeing. I later came to realize I really didn’t know much about what goes into the makings of a priest or a seminarian, and was actually being close-minded. One could ask: how can anyone make a decision and see God’s will clearly if they don’t have all the information. While being there we got to experience the realness of faith that comes to those who are studying to become Diocesan Priests and Benedictine Monks. By seeing the realness of faith from these men I have become more open to discerning God’s will, and not just my own. This world needs more Priests and men who can discern deeper the will of God in their lives. I think that every man, whether they have never really thought much about the Priesthood or really think that this is their calling, should go on a come and see retreat to enter into the seminary experience for a weekend and be around more men who are also discerning to see if the priesthood is their God-given vocation. If taken seriously, this retreat could change their lives!