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TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD
TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD
OFFICE OF VOCATIONS
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
Hartford Priest BLOG
A Right Feeling?
March 14 2022
I can remember hearing from other priests and seminarians, “The moment I walked into the doors of the seminary it just felt right, it seemed like home.” Interestingly, when I first passed through the doors of the seminary on a discernment retreat, it actually didn’t feel right at all! In fact, I think I had a pit in my stomach – is God actually calling me to do this?!?! Is God actually calling me to leave my life to enter seminary and study for the priesthood? Is He actually asking me to lay down my life to be a priest?
Yet, something inside of me knew that I needed to give God time. He speaks to both the mind and the heart. As in my case, the heart will follow if it is an authentic call, but I needed to be patient. A man considering the priesthood cannot place all of his stock in one feeling at a particular time. In fact, God generally plays the long game. As Psalm 37 tells us, “Be still before the Lord; wait for him.” Ultimately, He always comes.
~ Fr. John Gancarz
Yet, something inside of me knew that I needed to give God time. He speaks to both the mind and the heart. As in my case, the heart will follow if it is an authentic call, but I needed to be patient. A man considering the priesthood cannot place all of his stock in one feeling at a particular time. In fact, God generally plays the long game. As Psalm 37 tells us, “Be still before the Lord; wait for him.” Ultimately, He always comes.
~ Fr. John Gancarz
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Vocations Director
Fr. Michael Casey
Fr. Michael Casey
Message from Fr. Casey
"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain." (John 15:16). The call of the Lord Jesus to serve him in the Holy Priesthood arises directly from the love of his Sacred Heart. He is still calling many more men today to leave their worldly desires and ambitions behind and set out on the great adventure of the Catholic Priesthood, to dedicate their lives to the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
A call to the priesthood usually begins with some attraction to priestly life and ministry, a call to give oneself to God in a deeper, more radical way. From there through prayer and participation in the Church's sacramental life, one usually is led to greater trust in beginning to take the first steps of answering God's call. If you think God may be calling you, do not be afraid! Spend time in prayer, particularly in Eucharistic Adoration and participation in the Sacraments, in order to come to know Christ better. Also, it would be helpful to reach out and speak to a priest who you may know and trust, just to see what his thoughts are.
The Lord God promised to send shepherds for his Church. Today, the people of God need good and holy priests who will proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments for our world. If God is calling you, be courageous in answering, knowing that with St. Paul "we can do all things in him who strengthens us" (cf Phil 4:14).
A call to the priesthood usually begins with some attraction to priestly life and ministry, a call to give oneself to God in a deeper, more radical way. From there through prayer and participation in the Church's sacramental life, one usually is led to greater trust in beginning to take the first steps of answering God's call. If you think God may be calling you, do not be afraid! Spend time in prayer, particularly in Eucharistic Adoration and participation in the Sacraments, in order to come to know Christ better. Also, it would be helpful to reach out and speak to a priest who you may know and trust, just to see what his thoughts are.
The Lord God promised to send shepherds for his Church. Today, the people of God need good and holy priests who will proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments for our world. If God is calling you, be courageous in answering, knowing that with St. Paul "we can do all things in him who strengthens us" (cf Phil 4:14).
Associate Directors
