News

Priests share stories with young men

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Seminary visits Ministry Weekend Where: University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Illinois When: Jan. 16-18 and again April 2-4 Who: For post-college men with a serious interest in diocesan priesthood. Information: Contact Fr. Joe Noonan at (847)970-4814, e-mail: vocations@usml.edu or at www.chicagopriest.org. Those interested may also contact Fr. Doug LeCaptain at (920)437-7531 or e-mail: vocations@gbdioc.org. Vianney Visit Where: St. John Vianney College Seminary, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn. When: Feb. 19-21 Who: High school men. Information: Fr. Doug LeCaptain, diocesan vocations director, will take a group to the Vianney Visit. To reserve a space or for information, contact him at (920)437-7531 or e-mail: vocations@gbdioc.org.

High school senior Andrew Van Hout of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah wants to make a difference in people's lives, and he's exploring a career path to do so.

"I'm continuing to discern whether or not this priesthood thing is going to work out," he said. "I will continue my discernment and see where it leads."

To learn more about priesthood, Van Hout attends Project Andrew Dinners offered by the vocations office of the diocese. He was among 24 young men, high school juniors and older, who participated in the recent Project Andrew gathering with Bp. David Zubik and diocesan priests.

"We try to build a casual atmosphere so they're comfortable to talk," said Fr. Doug LeCaptain, vocations director for the Diocese of Green Bay. "One of the key points of Project Andrew is for priests to share their stories. How did you begin to answer the call to priesthood? We (priests) are all a little different. Our stories are different. It's important for the guys to see that there is not one path to follow."

"I've heard Fr. Tom's (Pomeroy) story several times, but each time I take something from it," said Justin Krueger of Holy Angels Parish in Darboy, a junior at Kimberly High School. "I like hearing how they were recruited to the priesthood and how God was calling them. It also helps me relate to them. If I'm not like one of them, I'm not going to be able to relate, but by hearing different stories, you can find something in common. You realize that God calls people from many different backgrounds."

Any young Catholic man who is open to the priesthood is invited to attend a Project Andrew Dinner. In addition to the vocation stories, participants eat together, socialize and have the opportunity to ask questions. The gatherings are affirming, said Van Hout.

"It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who is thinking about the priesthood," he said.

"Often these guys are the only ones in their parish or town who are considering the priesthood, so it's important that they have the opportunity to meet other guys," said Fr. LeCaptain. "That's also why I hand out prayer cards with a list of our seminarians, so they can see that there are other men answering the call."

Seminarian Carl Schmitt participated in the recent Project Andrew Dinner. The seminarians who attended are an important link, said B.J. Saxton, a senior at Catholic Central High School in Marinette and a member of Holy Family Parish.

"They are closer to our age, so we can really relate to them," he said. "Sometimes it's harder for the priests to provide the answers we need. Talking with the seminarians is helpful."

Many Project Andrew participants are invited by pastors who accompany them to the dinners.

"That's very important," said Fr. LeCaptain. "A key part of Project Andrew happens in the car on the way home. I've heard back from priests that the best part was the conversation on the way home talking about what they talked about here and asking further questions. If they share this experience with their pastor, they can keep talking about it."

Bp. Zubik plans to continue the Project Andrew program, named for the apostle Andrew who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, as a means to promote vocations.

"This is part of it (vocations plan), just being out there and just pounding the pavement, letting the people know how great the priesthood is," he said. "Among the few things I'm using is the enthusiasm we have as priests already. We need to share that. That's the first way God calls people is when they see someone excited about what they're doing. The second thing is that we cannot be shy if we sense something in someone. We need to ask that person. 'Would you think about it?' 'Would you be interested in it?'"

Bp. Zubik shared his vocation story. He also spoke about both the rewards and struggles of life as a priest.

"It's not always an easy life, but you're committing yourself to something because you know it's your call," he said. "I feel it's important to be very honest with people. It's a realistic view of it. You know that, in the midst of it, there's a great joy that's underneath all of that. There is a great joy in being faithful to what God calls you to be."

"The struggles show that they are human, that they aren't a step above all of us," said Krueger. "It also shows how much they have given to God."

Fr. LeCaptain, who is assisted by Frs. Joe Dorner and Mark Vander Steeg, follows up Project Andrew Dinners with letters to the participants. He proceeds according to where the potential candidate is in the discernment process, he said.

"We continue to invite them and encourage them to ask questions," he said. "I eventually will use a tool called Priest Perceiver. I ask a series of questions to identify common areas found in priests. It tells me their ministry interests and perceptions.

It also measures their natural gifts and talents. For example, if it is determined that a person is interested in missionary work, I will encourage him to consider a religious order. It's a tool used in other professions that has been applied to priests."

"We also provide the option of seminary visits, invite them to visit the Websites of the seminaries, to meet with me one-on-one and attend the ordinations in the spring to pray with the community," he added. "We will do whatever we can to help them in the discernment process."