Their paths diverged, but only for a while

By Sam Lucero
Compass Staff

	Special Section: Vocations Life Vocations Awareness Week: Jan. 13-19, 2008
	Only in the Print Edition ... Articles found only in the special section of the Jan. 11, 2008 Compass print edition: • God has a plan for everyone -- if we just listen; Deacon at Manitowoc high school advises youth to listen for God's directions • On the job training works for youth minister; New London youth minister to be commissioned by diocese in May • Ministry has become bridge between cultures; As a child, she wanted the joy she saw in Sisters • Bay Settlement Sister shows multi-hued ministry; Love of art started out with Door County's nature • Discernment house offers a step on the faith journey; Sturgeon Bay native and four others discern call together • A married couple's proper vocation is to witness the faith; Pope says family health leads to society's health • She wasn't quite sure what 'a Sister' was; Then, in a convent chapel, Appleton native realized she 'was home' • Subscribe to print edition

ALLOUEZ -- Their journeys to the priesthood dovetailed each other in many ways.

Fr. Tom Long and Fr. John Doerfler both attended the same parish, St. Mary, in Appleton. They were classmates at St. Mary Grade School and played together during and after school. They entered the seminary about the same time and both were sent to Rome by Bishop Adam Maida to study at the North American College.

The two priests were even ordained at the same time by Bishop Robert Banks on July 13, 1991, and both now serve in key leadership roles in the Green Bay Diocese, Fr. Long as vocations director and Fr. Doerfler as chancellor.

But when it came to high schools, the two went separate ways. Fr. Long attended Xavier Catholic High School and Fr. Doerfler attended Appleton West High School, both graduating in 1983. The former received his religious instruction during the school day and the latter attended religious education classes at night.

Their experience proves that both Catholic schools and parish education programs can create a learning environment that fosters the idea of a religious vocation. While both priests agree that their high school religious education programs, though different, fortified their faith development, they said it was family influences and church participation that played key roles.

"I think our families are the most important thing," said Fr. Long. "We both came from strong families of faith, and we were both very involved in the parish. I think that's what's important."

Relatives in orders

Fr. Doerfler's family influences, in addition to his father and mother, Henry (deceased) and Germaine, included two uncles who are Capuchin priests, Fr. Joseph Doerfler and Fr. Camillus Doerfler.

Fr. Long's parents, Tom Sr. and Kathy, are active church-goers, and he also has an aunt who professed religious vows: Dominican Sr. Kathleen Long.

"I grew up in church and I just always had an active faith life that I received from my parents," said Fr. Doerfler. "From my very earliest of memories, that was really something that was instilled in me through my family."

With his family laying the groundwork, Fr. Doerfler found his own niche in church service.

"When I was in high school, I became very active in youth ministry programs in the diocese," he said. "I spent quite a bit of time engaged in those, and the reason why is that I wanted other young people to come to know the Lord Jesus. Faith was so important to me. That's what I wanted to share with other young people."

Fr. Long is part of the fifth generation of Long family members who belong to St. Mary Parish. This heritage made church just another family extension.

"Growing up at St. Mary's in Appleton, that was a big part of my vocation," he said. "My dad's family moved from Ireland in the 1840s to just west of Appleton. They've been a part of St. Mary Parish since it started in 1859."

One lasting impression Fr. Long has is the visits he made with his grandmother to the parish cemetery.

"When I was a kid, my grandma used to take me out to the parish cemetery," he recalled. "She used to walk me around to the different graves of our relatives. From that, I got a sense of my identity, of being tied up with my parish."

When he was in junior high school, his aunt Kathleen joined the Dominicans. "Watching her go through her formation process and coming to know a bunch of her friends, it was helpful for me to see what that kind of life was about."

Like Fr. Doerfler, Fr. Long's faith came into its own in high school by participating in young adult ministries.

"In high school, I got involved with TEC (Teens Encounter Christ)," he said. "A number of guys who were ordained were involved with TEC and that gave me some good friendships with other Catholic young people."

Thoughts of the call

When did the thought of priesthood enter their minds? For Fr. Doerfler, it was during his junior year in high school, while preparing for confirmation.

"They had a city-wide religious education program for high school students at that time," he said. "The director of religious education, Kurt Grube (now a deacon), was the only person who put the question to me, of whether I ever thought about being a priest."

When faced with the question, Fr. Doerfler said he reflected on his involvement in the diocesan Christian Youth in Action program, his parish youth choir and TEC. He realized church ministry was a possibility.

"I had to answer yes, because the thought had crossed my mind," he said. "Then he asked me if I was doing anything about it, and I said no." Fr. Doerfler was also interested in civil engineering and was taking classes to help prepare him for that possibility. Deacon Grube told him he should make the same effort in discerning a vocation.

While returning from a national youth conference in Indianapolis a few weeks later, Fr. Doerfler said that conversation came to mind. "Out of the blue I said, 'John, you've done a lot of things with the church the last few years. Can you think of yourself doing anything else with your life?' I knew immediately the answer was no," he said.

"I didn't know exactly what the answer to that question meant, but I knew I needed to look at it seriously."

It was the summer before his senior year and he decided to enter the seminary after graduation. "I needed to know what the answer was to that question," he said. "I needed to discern the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood."

He enrolled at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, and attended the College of St. Thomas (now a university).

Meanwhile, Fr. Long made the decision his senior year to attend Marquette University and participate in a college formation program at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee.

He lived at the seminary and took classes at Marquette, where he graduated with a double major in business administration and philosophy in 1987.

Theology in Rome

After completing undergraduate degrees at their respective colleges, and deciding to continue priestly formation, both men were reunited at the North American College, where they were sent by Bishop Maida to study theology.

Both men were ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Peter's Basilica on April 11, 1991. Three months later, they were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Banks.

They were then assigned to parishes, Fr. Long to St. Jude in Green Bay and Fr. Doerfler to St. John in Little Chute.

Both liked parish ministry, but their leadership qualities led them to new areas of service. After four years in Little Chute, Bishop Banks asked Fr. Doerfler to study canon law at The Catholic University in Washington. "At the same time I also finished a degree in moral theology at John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family," he said. He returned to Green Bay in 1997 to work in the marriage tribunal and serve as an associate pastor at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. "Then I was named administrator of Holy Trinity in Casco from 1999 to 2004," he said.

Fr. Long spent three years at St. Jude, then was transferred to Nativity Parish in Ashwaubenon. His first pastorate was at St. Mary Parish in Brillion. Later the parishes in Brillion and Reedsville were merged to become Holy Family, with Fr. Long overseeing the transition.

Finally, in July 2005, following Bishop David Zubik's appointment to Green Bay, both priests received their current assignments.

'Lord called me'

"People sometimes ask me why did I choose to be a priest," said Fr. Doerfler. "The best answer is, I chose to be a priest because this is what the Lord called me to do. He chose me."

Fr. Long, who also serves as chaplain at UW-Green Bay and sacramental minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Newton, misses parish work, but enjoys helping young men discern the possibility of a religious vocation.

"I loved being a pastor in a parish. I especially loved Sunday Mass, when everybody came together to pray," he said. "Being able to connect people with God, it's just a real powerful thing for me.

"As vocation director, my really missing (parish ministry) helps me to talk about what diocesan priesthood is about," added Fr. Long. "That's what the core of it is. I like working with our seminarians, both supporting and challenging them. I enjoy working with young men who are thinking, at least on some level, of the priesthood."

Fr. Long started a discernment house for men, which now is housed at the rectory of St. Francis Xavier Church in DePere. "Xavier House is meant to be for guys who are open to priesthood, but would like a place to live in community and pray together," he said. "It gives them a chance to interact with me." Five men presently live at Xavier House.

Fr. Doerfler knows that celibacy is still an obstacle to the priesthood for some men. He said that if they look at it as way to totally commit themselves to God - giving to him and not giving up something - it becomes a positive force.

"I think it's falsely perceived as a lonely and empty life," he said. "What lies at the heart of that commitment is giving oneself in love. I chose celibacy happily and joyfully because I fell in love with God and wanted to give myself to him in this particular way - out of love for God and service to his people. It's that self-gift that lies at the root of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom. It's a very joyful and meaningful way of life."