Priests

My classmates and I arrived to the sacristy of Saint Peter's Basilica about two hours before ordination on October 9th and were taken into a room where we could pray, prepare and vest for the ordination. In the quiet and stillness of the sacristy, the magnitude of the event hit me, especially since I had a very busy week leading up to the ordination. There was a lot of excitement and joy, but at the same time a deep sense of awe and seriousness towards what was about to happen.

For Father David Koetter, the first year of priesthood has been an awesome challenge that has brought him some of the most rewarding moments of his life – and also some of the toughest.
After his ordination last June, Fr. David began his first assignment at St. Teresa Avila in Martinez. A few weeks later, parish pastor John O'Brien died in a car accident.

"That's been the hardest thing I've ever had to go through," said Fr. David. Part of the balancing act, he said, was helping a congregation work through tremendous grief while grieving on his own.

"We lost a beloved pastor who brought so much hope and promise," he said of Fr. O'Brien, whom he called a "friend and mentor."

From the time Christ instituted the sacramental priesthood on Holy Thursday night and up to this present day, it has remained God's gift to His holy Church. For all times and in all places, priests will bring us the sacraments in order to show how Christ is with us and we can participate in His love until He comes again. Whenever I think about this profound truth of the Faith, I am filled with a sense of wonder and gratitude for the many gifts God has given us. Especially now, as I approach ordination to the sacred priesthood in June, I cannot help but to be mindful of the goodness God has shown me by calling me to serve Him and His people as a priest.

When Aaron Killips was assigned to study at North American College in Rome three years ago, the move was bittersweet.

"I still remember the conversation I had with Aaron when he called to tell me that the bishop was considering sending him to Rome," said Aaron's sister Amy Parris. "I told him he would be crazy not to go."

What would you say to other young men who may be wondering if they have a vocation to the priesthood?

Why wonder? Pray, and beg God not to allow you to become a priest if it is not His will, but if it is, for him to give you the strength and desire to conform to His will.

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?

By Deacon Steve Pontzer

God is so great! As I write this, I sit in my dorm room in the midst of my final semester here at St. Vincent seminary. I am high on grace at the moment, having spent the weekend serving the people of God at St. Bernard's Parish, where I am assigned as a Deacon on the weekends.

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.

I entered seminary with little other expectations than pursuing a daily adventure into what I believed God was calling me. Now those six years of seminary have rapidly
receded into my past, and my transition to parish life has seemed quite natural.

After my final summer as a seminarian at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Columbus, coupled with a terrific diaconal assignment at Saint Louis de Marillac parish in Pittsburgh, I was gladly ready to leave seminary life and get into "parish life."

A little over six years ago, Father Ray knelt in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and offered up the prayer, "If this is what you want, Lord, then You make it happen."

How did Fr. Martino become a man of God? His story is a particularly heartwarming one.