Men tell of call to serve

St. Isaac Jogues House of Discernment in Waterford, operated by the Vocations Office of the Albany Diocese, offers a year-long program for men considering the priesthood.

Once they complete that year, which includes required philosophy and religious studies courses at Siena College in Loudonville, they can apply to a five-year seminary program that will lead to ordination.

Two of the four men currently at Jogues House spoke with The Evangelist about what it is like to be called to the priesthood.

'IN THE RIGHT PLACE'

Matthew Wetsel, 23 and a native of Schenectady, majored in religious studies at Siena with the priesthood in mind, although he admits that he wasn't completely sure that was his calling.

After graduation, he decided to take a year off before choosing a career and completed an application to the discernment program to learn what the priesthood was about. He has found it to be exactly what he'd hoped for.

Because Mr. Wetsel had already completed a number of the required courses, he was assigned to help in the faith formation program at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar.

"I am in the right place right now," he said. "I am helping with the teaching plans and filling in as a catechist. I love the work; it's very satisfying. I feel humbled being involved in the discerning program. Everyone has been very supportive and understanding."

He called Rev. James Walsh, who is a member of the diocesan Vocations Team, "a major influence in my decision. He has been very supportive and understanding. He doesn't shy away from any question or concern that any of us might have. He knows a good candidate when he sees one."

Although he only recently realized his vocation, Mr. Wetsel believes that his formation began many years ago: "I was an altar server in my parish [Our Lady of the Assumption in Rotterdam]. In high school, I was a catechist for the third grade. At college, I was a Eucharistic minister and also worked in campus ministry as a retreat leader during my junior and senior years.

"In my future, I see myself working in a parish as an associate pastor and, hopefully, someday as a pastor. I really feel called to minister to people, and I see the priesthood as an opportunity to do just that.

"The opportunity to teach and learn through personal interaction in ministry is what I see the priesthood as being all about. It is what I see myself doing in the future."

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FILLING AN 'EMPTINESS'

Daniel Ryan, 34, said that his decision to discern the priesthood occurred three years ago when he was between jobs in the insurance industry. That was the career path he had chosen ten years earlier.

"In 2001, my company downsized, and I was one of the victims," he explained. "At 32, I knew I wanted something more in my life than being at the mercy of corporate decisions."

In between jobs, the Medford, N.J., native had time for serious reflection on the direction his life was moving in.

"I did get another job, and it was actually a move up that 'corporate ladder,' as a manager for a different insurance company. They sent me up to Albany," he said.

He didn't realize that his move would lead him to the priesthood.

"My job was good," he said. "I was making more money than before, but I knew something was missing. When I accepted that position, I'd hoped to continue helping people, something I always enjoyed doing in my insurance job. As a manager, I wanted that to continue -- and it did. But I began to see that there was still an emptiness. Something had changed in those few months; something else was happening."

He eventually realized that he was being called to do what God wanted him to do, not what he wanted to do.

"For most of my life, I'd anticipated marrying and raising a family," Mr. Ryan said. "I come from a large family -- I'm one of eight children -- and always assumed I'd get married. One day, it occurred to me that maybe God wanted me in a different place than marriage. I thought, 'What would I do with the rest of my life if I didn't get married?' It was at that point that I decided to find out."

Busy in his pre-seminary year at Jogues House, he is taking the required courses at Siena and looking at two seminaries for next year.

"This call has been with me for a very long time," he admitted. "Once I acknowledged it -- gave in to God, so to speak, and just let go -- I was able to make the decision. Through prayer and the discernment process, I have been able to see that God has called me to the priesthood.

"Getting to that point is difficult. But, on the flip side of it, once you do, the peace and joy you feel is priceless. The worry and anxiety just fall away. That's a wonderful feeling."

(For information on St. Isaac Jogues House of Discernment or the diocesan pre-seminary program, call 453-6670.)

(2/3/05)