Let God be pilot (This is the third article in a new monthly series, Hearing the Call, which will feature interviews with Catholics of all ages and situations who “have welcomed Christ’s call . . . to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world” (Catechism, #3). To comment or submit ideas for future interviews contact Father Kent Bowlds, vocation director, frkent@bellsouth.net, (www.jacksonvocations.com), 653 Claiborne Ave., Jackson, MS 39209, 601-944-9844.)
By Fr. Kent Bowlds
JACKSON – If God is your co-pilot, then you’re sitting in the wrong seat. If “hearing the call” means truly listening and following the Lord, then we should be surprised from time to time where that takes us, since we are not in the driver’s seat.
Two of our seminarians, Chris Buse and Grant Holzhauer, have decided not to return to the seminary this fall. Chris has just graduated from St. Joseph Seminary College and Grant finished the first of four years of graduate theology.
Both received favorable evaluations and made good grades this past semester; they simply are not sure at this time God is calling them to the priesthood, after having done the work of much discernment.
Rather than enter into a “pastoral year” in a parish supervised by the diocese as is done sometimes, they have decided to explore other options on their own. Chris will be teaching in St. Aloysius in Vicksburg this fall, and Grant is seeking church related employment, probably outside of Mississippi.
Sometimes in order to discern well one has to make a complete break, step away entirely, and from that new vantage point take a look at one’s life. (Bishop William Houck often shared with others his own experience of having taken some time away from the seminary in order to discern his calling.)
Will God call them back to seminary formation in the future? Only God knows. Their leaving is not a scandal, but a normal part of the overall vocations picture – more common among college seminarians than among those in graduate theology. I often tell men and women they do not have to be 100 percent certain before entering preparation for the priesthood or religious life; sometimes beginning formation is the only way to finally know for sure.
Please know your prayers and financial support for Chris and Grant have not been wasted. Even if they do not become priests someday, their seminary formation will bear good fruit for the church in whatever way they serve and practice their faith.
Some leave and some arrive. We have just accepted a new seminarian, Adam Nobles from St. Alphonsus, McComb, who just graduated from Parklane Academy. Adam will be following a new kind of formation process – enrolling as a freshman at Mississippi State University, living in a dorm there, and being involved in parish and campus ministry, along with receiving periodic direction and formation.
It is envisioned that, God willing, he will later transfer to St. Joseph Seminary College to take the necessary hours in philosophy and complete his bachelor’s degree, before going on to graduate theology formation.
Also arriving later this summer, from Guatemala, will be seminarian Juan Chavajay (a relative of Lorenzo Aju, pastoral minister of St. John in Eupora). Juan has almost finished seminary in his home country, and will be coming here to learn English and work in our diocese in order for him to discern, along with us, if God is truly calling him to be a “missionary” in Mississippi.
And Father Lenin Vargas has been following the application process with several seminarians from Morelia, Mexico; if accepted they will be supported in Mexico for a couple of years until they finish philosophy, after which they will be brought to our diocese to finish English language studies and begin theology.
Newly ordained Father Lincoln Dall has begun serving as associate pastor of St. Richard, Jackson, and seminarian Charles Macko has graduated from Notre Dame Seminary and begun a parish internship in Natchez prior to diaconate and priesthood ordination in 2009.
So if I give you a blank look when you ask me, “How many seminarians do we have?” please forgive me. Things are in a state of flux, and will soon settle down for the fall. Please just keep the faith, keep praying, and keep inviting women and men to think about a life of service as a sister, brother, or priest. And if you haven’t already, move over – let God be the pilot!
