Only through Jesus will we find the meaning of all that is human.

"It is part of the mystery of the human person, which is only
explained in Jesus Christ, the one who reveals to the human person his or her identity. Only through Jesus Christ will we find the meaning of all that
is human." John Paul II
Matthew, our eldest son, entered St. Patrick's seminary August 21, 2010. He will spend two years in pre-theology and another 5 yrs. preparing for the priesthood. This is Matthew's call. Although Joe and I are very proud of him, in no way could we decide his vocation for him.
The week before Matthew left for the seminary, Joe and I let him know that if he ever felt that this was not the will of God we would support him and never push him into a vocation in which he did not feel called.
Matthew immediately reassured us that he never felt "pushed" by us into the priesthood. He explained that he had never felt at peace while at school discerning his profession and worrying about what his niche was in the world. Today, after accepting the call, Matthew told us he feels confident he is doing the will of Christ and he desires to serve Christ through His Church. Now he no longer doubts his path, and Matthew is sure of the meaning of his identity.
These young seminarians need your prayers. They have chosen a path, a
narrow road, "in the midst of a painful attack on the priesthood and the
Church. Because of the terrible sins of a very few priests, the goodness and sacrifice of so many priests has been ignored." Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR
To be a Catholic today, let alone a priest of the Catholic church is counter-cultural. It is a challenge, it can only be explained by the cross, by picking up that cross and following Him - Jesus Christ. This is the theology of courage, of white martyrdom, of HOPE!
Thank you all so much for your prayers. Please keep Matthew in your daily prayers for priests. Please keep St. Patrick's Seminary and all of the seminarians in your prayers! May God continue to bless the Church with young men who desire to serve our Lord in His Church and will soon begin to live as an "alter Christus."
God Bless you and thank you!!!