Q&A With Scott Winchel

When did you decide to study to be a priest? How did you know God was calling you to be a priest? What do you think the best thing will be about being a priest?
I decided to study to be a priest after my interview with Bishop Boland. I had prayed to God and said that if my interview with the Vocations Director was positive, the seminarian application process was positive, and if the bishop wanted me to be a seminarian then I would pursue studies for the priesthood. I figured that if God didn't want me to be a priest, there were many possible obstacles that He could put in the way for me; but He never did and hasn't yet.

I thought that God might be calling me to be a priest because I really enjoyed being involved in the church and learning about the Catholic faith. Friends in my parish encouraged me to consider the priesthood.

The best thing about the priesthood for me would have to be the celebration of the Eucharist. Witnessing Christ become present in our world on our altars is the greatest miracle that we are able to experience. The priest is able to bring Christ to the people and the people to Christ and I think that would be the greatest gift that a priest could experience.

Who or what influenced you to study for the priesthood?
I avoided the priesthood for a few years after I became Catholic. I was hoping that God wasn't calling me to be a priest, but as time passed I felt that God wore me down and was asking me to at least consider it. When I finally opened my heart to the call it seemed like everything fell into place and the paths on the journey became clear to walk down. A parish priest back in Missouri had encouraged me to consider the priesthood, and my friend Paul Thigpen from Savannah encouraged me as well. It was Paul who put me into contact with the Diocesan Vocations Director Fr. Brett Brannen, who was a tremendous influence upon me and he gave me great encouragement to pursue priestly studies.

If you were not a priest, what do you think you would be?
Before I began my seminary studies I worked as an aircraft mechanic. After coming to the seminary I now see the importance and dignity of teaching about God. God's things are the highest things that we can participate in as human beings and yet he lets us be a part of such important work. I would hope that I would be teaching about God in some capacity if I weren't studying to be a priest.

What was the reaction of those closest to you when you entered the seminary?
My catholic friends were very supportive of my entrance to the seminary, and my family, which is not Catholic, wasn't quite sure of what I was getting into. As my journey has continued and my family has become more used to the idea of me one day becoming a priest, they have been more supportive than I ever could have asked for.

What do you do in your free time at the seminary?
Occasionally I go see a movie or go out to eat with seminarian friends. Washington DC is fairly close to the seminary so there are sight seeing opportunities there.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you see much of your family and friends outside the seminary?
I have two wonderful brothers and they are both married with families. I also have a nephew and three nieces. I usually visit them and my parents during the Christmas season for a few weeks and also during the summer for a few weeks.

What are you most looking forward to about being a priest?

Can you really be happy as a priest since priests don't make much money?
The less money you have and the fewer things that you have, the less things you have to worry about. Having lots of money or lots of things doesn't solve the problem of happiness. The more you have, the more you want. Just when you think that having a particular thing will make you happy and solve all your problems, you find that once you have that thing, you get tired of it and you find something better that you want. It's like drinking salt water when you get thirsty- it just makes you thirstier. I think that not having much money is a good thing because it makes you have greater dependence upon God and it makes you more appreciative for the things that you do have.

Do you ever get bored while studying to be a priest?
Studying to be a priest is very time consuming and challenging. I can't say that I have ever been bored with priestly studies; exhausted- yes, bored- never.

How is a seminary different than a regular school
It is different in that a student is not just studying to learn information that will be used at a later time. A seminary forms the seminarian to be a priest in the way that he prays, in the way that he is to teach, celebrate the sacraments, work with others, and how he is to bring Christ to the people and the people to Christ. He is being trained to be a man of God and in addition, he is being trained to help his future flock to be children of God. He is being trained to be Jesus' hands, feet, and voice in the world.

What scares you about becoming a priest?
I believe that the responsibility that rides on the shoulders of the priest is tremendous. Our Lord calls priests to be like Him and yet we as human beings are weak. I believe that the priesthood is all about sacrifice and service for Christ and His Church and in order to bear the responsibility of the priesthood and to sacrifice oneself on behalf of our Lord, the priest has to be close to our Lord and depend on His grace.

What would you say to other young men who may be wondering if they have a vocation to the priesthood?
Be open to whatever the Lord is calling you to. If you think He might be calling you in the direction of the priesthood, cooperate with Him and start walking down the path. You're not going anywhere if you're not moving. If when you're walking, the path keeps growing wider, keep walking on it. If the path gets blocked, you'll have to turn and take a different path, but you won't know where the path is going to lead unless you start walking. Always remember that God knows the very thing that is going to make you the happiest and that's where He wants to take you. But you have to trust that you might be happiest in the place that you least expected.