I come from Drogheda in Ireland, the youngest of a family of four. I studied chemistry in Dublin and then Edinburgh and lived in Germany and Cambridge doing research. Just before applying to seminary, I was working in Dublin at a university but decided to pursue my vocation with the Diocese of East Anglia, which I came to know well during my time in Cambridge.
As a teenager, I had lapsed from my faith and then returned to the Church in my twenties when I was living abroad.
I began to help at Mass, reading and serving. I felt drawn to the liturgy and felt a desire to be a priest growing through this experience. I wanted to be able to offer Mass and the Sacraments. However, despite praying about it, I did not feel able to be a priest, particularly considering all the pastoral challenges that they face. But, after getting to know some priests more and being encouraged by various friends, I felt prompted to discern this vocation.
I expected seminary to be quite a busy mix of different things, with the four strands of formation, plenty of academic study and pastoral placements. It is certainly busy and can be quite an intense and focused experience but there are also little periods of quiet with time for reflection, especially during retreats and recollections.
There is a real sense of community in the college, whether it’s at meal times, over a coffee, between lecturers or in the bar. There is always someone to say hi to and chat with about whatever is going on in your life. It’s also great being able to have mass and prayer time built into our schedules.
In terms of challenges, I had quite an independent job and lifestyle before seminary so adjusting to the college’s busy, and essentially non-negotiable, timetable has not always been easy. It is also strange getting used to having Wednesday as our only day off, especially as friends outside talk of their weekend fun!
Pastoral placements in various settings have given me a deeper insight and appreciation of what a priest is called to do in parishes, hospitals, schools and for the whole community.
Being close to so many others discerning and living a vocation has helped me grow in confidence and intentionality in exploring my own calling. The seminary’s routine of prayer and regular recollections and retreats have also given me space to reflect on the ups and downs of my sense of vocation.
My own vocation grew out of a love of the liturgy and that is still a major component in my attraction to the priesthood, but perhaps more so in enabling others to receive and appreciate Christ through it. I have also seen in various pastoral situations how priests can make a huge difference, bringing Christ to someone, often in a surprisingly simple way, such as a bedside chat and prayer in the hospital or a home communion visit. Hospital ministry is something I probably thought I’d never have been cut out for but now find particularly enriching.
In my own discernment journey so far, there have been many little steps and movements, which I’ve only really understood with hindsight. If you have any sense of a vocation or interest in priesthood, it is worth looking at the next step. This might be an initial talk with your parish priest, or committing to a few discerners meetings or even looking into the application process.
Talking to people and their affirmation was also important for me, so share your thoughts with priests, friends, and family – you might be surprised at what they say.