Newest priest was called twice

That's because the call was entirely unexpected. The 29-year-old, who will be ordained June 12, was once a fallen-away Catholic whose philosophy of life was, "Do whatever, as long as you try not to hurt anyone."

Born in Idaho, Father Winslow moved several times as a child to accommodate his father's Navy career. When he was in the third grade, his family -- parents, Dr. Richard and Karen Winslow; and siblings, Richard Jr., Michael, Mary and Deborah -- settled in Glenville, attending Immaculate Conception parish there.

Loss of faith

"I was Catholic in name and upbringing, but it didn't do much to form my faith," he remembered. "There was no participation or interest in the Church."

His falling grades made the young man take a look at how he was living his life: a "perverse form of success" in which he could "get by without doing anything." He decided to issue himself a challenge: either get a 3.0 average his second semester, or quit college and join the Navy.

Changing his life

"I started thinking about life, trying to figure out what I was going to do," he recalled. "I had to know to what end I was working."

That started the future priest thinking: "What happens at the end of life? Do I believe in God?" When he discovered he did, he thought, "How does that affect me now?"

Returning faith

"Over a year and a half, my faith and moral positions took a radical change," he said. "I started to believe what the Church was teaching. I hardly recognized myself! By the time I graduated, I was still sneaking out of the frat house to go to Mass. It was very much a secret love affair with God."

That was in December 1991. Armed with his degree in chemistry, he took a job with Schenectady Chemical, Inc. But he kept thinking about whether to pursue his social life, academic life or faith life.

First call

The future priest initially approached an associate pastor at his parish about his vocation but felt embarrassed to even consider the priesthood, afraid others would say, "How can you believe what that Church believes," or "But you can't get married!"

Instead, he accepted the offer of a teaching assistantship at Georgia Tech, attending graduate school with the final goal of getting his doctorate.

"Halfway through my first year, I thought, `Maybe I'll bail out with my master's," he remembered. Finally, he admitted to himself, "My heart and my mind are thinking about God; I spend hours in Church, praying....It's time."

Answered call

"The people that knew me best weren't surprised. The people I knew on a more social level were flabbergasted," he said, laughing. "My family was always supportive and tried to keep their distance, so as not to persuade me one way or the other."

Father Winslow called his six years of formation for the priesthood an exciting time when he was able to study theology and philosophy to better understand his faith.

"I don't fear learning, because the truth stands on its own," he declared.

He also discovered what he termed the "radical freedom" involved in a vocation. "Although God calls one to the priesthood, that's not sufficient for becoming a priest," he explained. "One has to respond -- and he has to do that freely."

Hope in future

Father Winslow has already served at St. Catherine's and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Albany; St. Mary's in Granville; and Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart/St. Columba's in Schenectady. He also spent three months learning Spanish in a language-immersion program in Colombia.

The priest marked among his strengths his youthful perspective and affection for people. However, he joked about being the sole member of his June "graduating class" (Rev. Mark Cunningham was ordained in January): "It's a little daunting that I'm 'it.' We need a few more!"

(06-10-99) [[In-content Ad]]