As the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Diocese of Camden, I am excited to have an updated Vocations website, along with this blog, Our Journeys of Faith, which is an opportunity for priests and our seminarians to share their stories and experiences.
It seems appropriate that our first entry come from Bishop Sullivan, who has helped remind us all about our need as a diocese to pray for and promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood.
Here is some of his story, as was published in the Catholic Star Herald for the 2013 World Day of Prayer for Vocations:
Somewhere between freshman and sophomore year in college, I began to be attracted to the priesthood. The attraction was to what I saw as the privileged presence a priest has in the lives of people. He is present at times of sadness; on occasions of celebration, such as birth and marriage. He is present with those who may be experiencing difficulties, problems; in the ordinary, everyday lives of men and women, he is present. Something about that availability, that personal presence, strongly attracted me and I wondered would it be possible for me to be a priest?
At the same time I was attracted to setting a correct course toward my future career. Doing well in classes and getting the degrees – the bachelors, the masters. Thinking about the future, family life, along with whom I would marry. Taking advantage of the campus social life, extracurricular activities, it was all very exciting. A new social world was opening to me and it was very attractive. I wondered where that would take me.
Sometimes I was pulled strongly to career and to marriage, other times, to the priesthood. It was a struggle. An internal pulling. Attracted to girls I would meet, to new friends and yet also attracted to the priesthood to serve God by serving his people. It was bothersome. Uncertain, confusing.
Finally, I built up enough courage to bear my soul to the priest chaplain at school. I always felt comfortable with him and so I told him what I was experiencing. I shared the attractions – the pulling one way and then the other way. The struggles going on within.
He was a wise man of God who explained that he too had passed through a similar path of uncertainties. He helped me understand that there was nothing unusual about what I was experiencing. He helped me get it out – to talk about it. Most of all, he helped me understand that God calls through the struggle – that God speaks into the questioning. Certainty about a Religious vocation grows slowly and with lost of assistance. First, there has to be a choice and give it a try. I gave it a try and the rest is history.
Any young man who may read this and connects with my experience, I invite you to contact Father Michael Romano, his email is michael.romano@camdendiocese.org. He will be more than happy to speak with you.
A man is called by God to the priesthood. It is a vocation. Hearing God’s call, responding to that call, frequently involves a struggle. Yet, it is God who calls through that confusion. Eventually, either certainty comes through, or it does not come through. First, there are the struggle and the pulling. Then, give it a try and the rest may be your history.
Father Michael Romano
Latest posts by Father Michael Romano (see all)
- Talking Catholic Podcast - April 13, 2018
- Talking Catholic - March 30, 2017
- Listen Closely To That Call and Do Not Be Afraid - August 22, 2016
