DIOCESAN NEWS
09/19/08
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Newest seminarian pursues formation at MSU
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The newest seminarian for the Diocese of Jackson, Adam Nobles, is a freshman at Mississippi State University, experiencing secular college in preparation for seminary and following a program of discernment and being mentored as part of his unique formation process. Below he reflects on how he experienced “the call.”)
By Adam Nobles
     The youngest of five children, I am blessed with amazing parents, Dr. James and Penny Nobles. We moved to McComb from Louisiana when I was 12. People from my home parish, St. Alphonsus, and many others in the Diocese of Jackson have not only helped me but also inspired me to go beyond my own expectations of what I can do in life.
     My story of discernment is both simple and complicated. Being born into a Catholic family and community in Louisiana, I was always surrounded by the Catholic faith. But I did not truly know what it means to be Catholic until I had to defend my faith when we moved to McComb and I attended a predominately Protestant school.
     Little did I know that it would be the Protestants’ questions that would make me research and understand how awesome our faith is. By my freshman year of high school I had become fully immersed in the doctrines.
     My understanding changed, however, when I went to a retreat which made me realize the greatest truth I would ever know. The theme was “Rise Up a Catholic Revolution” – part of a series sponsored by Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio.
     Before this experience I didn’t really know my purpose as a young Catholic. On the Saturday night of that retreat I recalled a moment from my childhood – my mom and myself sitting in the back of a church praying to Mary – and in that recollection I felt Mary was calling me to become like her son and give up my life for the church!
     After that night nothing was ever the same again. I knew my purpose and knew that I could not be afraid of the road that was laid before me (as Pope John Paul II often encouraged us).
     Have I fallen since then? Yes I have, but a phrase I like to live by is that the difference between a saint and a sinner is that the saint gets back up and tries his hardest to learn from his mistakes.
     Since being at Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville, God has continued to challenge my spirituality, but I have never felt the presence of God as powerfully as I do here.
     Some people think that in college most young Catholics lose part of their faith, but that is not always the case. Every young adult beginning to experience the broader world has two options – either to lose faith or gain a much needed and deeper spirituality.
     I am constantly surrounded with many who do seem to rationalize God out of their lives.      But I also find encouragement in seeing fellow students teaching the Gospel in simple yet very effective ways by helping those in need and supporting their brothers and sisters through words of hope and love.
     I am so proud to be a part of this group of people and know that we must continue to keep our faith strong and be the light to bring out of darkness those who stray.
     I would like you to challenge yourselves even more to seek out the truth in your own lives and, most importantly, seek out who you are as a person made in the image of God. This is discernment and it is not just for seminarians!
     I pray we may all seek out the things that draw us close to God, and grab hold of the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8: 31-38). This, I believe, is the answer to the great question of the mystery of life. May God continue to bless all of us in the Jackson diocese, and I ask that you continue to pray for all of our church leaders, priests, and seminarians, as we will always keep you in our own prayers.
(This is the fifth article in a monthly series, Hearing the Call, which features 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.)

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