Called by CHRIST Christ God s Ordinary Call From the Desk of Fr. Luke Ballman, Vocation Director INSIDE Fr. Tim Gallagher The Father of a Priest Pins for Priests A Seminarian Tells His Story YEAR for PRIESTS 2009-2010 Often God is right in front of us, and we don t recognize him. We expect to encounter God when we pray, attend Mass, receive Communion or go to Confession or even when we experience a magnificent display of nature like a beautiful sunset or the crashing waves on the beach. But what about in the ordinary hum drum activities of my life? Peter and James and John were doing the ordinary work of fishing when they encountered Jesus. His call was ordinary and yet very attractive. Mother Theresa of Calcutta saw people dying on the streets. She saw Jesus in those people calling her to serve him in the dying, and thus was born the Missionaries of Charity. We often think of God is calling you or someone you know to follow him more closely in priesthood or religious life. these saints as extraordinary people. But they were ordinary people like you and me. What makes them extraordinary was that they allowed God to love them, and followed God s call to return that love in service to the Church. Jesus stills calls people in the daily events of ordinary life. God is passionately Continued on back Georgia Bulletin Photos By Michael Alexander
New Priest Feels Peace and Joy Fr. Tim Gallagher talks about being on the giving side of the Church As a lifelong Catholic, Fr. Tim Gallagher didn t think being on the other side of the altar would offer too many surprises. He grew up going to Mass, after all, and he understands the sacraments. But the months since his ordination have definitely been eye opening. You get ordained a priest and it s kind of like getting married, explained Fr. Tim, who was ordained last summer at the Cathedral of Christ the King. You don t know how to do it the right way, and you learn from interaction with people, serving, listening to others, learning from mistakes and through prayer, mainly what the Spirit is guiding me to do and what Jesus is telling me to do. Fr. Tim is quick to point out that guidance from pastor Fr. John Kieran has been invaluable. You can be overwhelmed by the newness of it. You have a pastor who has experienced it all, and for him to give guidance is very helpful for a newly ordained priest. Fr. Tim, 37, was in the military for a few years, went to college and then became a physical therapist before discerning a call to the priesthood. He wanted to be a missionary, he said, and was thinking about marriage. Then I had a conversion a reconversion through the rosary and that opened me to discerning the priesthood. And that s eventually what won out. As a new priest, the ins and outs of his day are what he expected. Fr. Tim starts with prayer, and then generally offers Mass, hears confessions, and visits the sick. Then it s off to meetings and planning committees, helping with the youth and meeting with individual parishioners. As his Spanish improves, he s also helping more with that ministry. It is a very good experience so far, said Fr. Tim. It s very humbling to experience people s openness to priests. I would say I have a definite confirmation of what I ve been called to by God to do with my life. What is different from his expectations what Fr. Tim could not have known was how it feels to be administering the sacraments instead of just receiving them. I m on the giving side of the Church, not so much on the receptive side, he said, but in giving you receive Jesus. It s a very different mindset, but very rewarding at the same time. The more he serves the Church, he said, the more peace and joy he feels. Certainly upon my ordination there was a great sense of peace, a sense that I had finally said yes to God s will to my life. As a priest carries out the ministry, he is more and more aware of Christ working within him. It s not an occupation or job it s an act of love. 2
Faith Isn t Taught; It s Caught The father of seminarian Michael Silloway reflects on his son s vocation Ask Lyndon Silloway the best way to get a priest in the family and he chuckles. His son is a seminarian, but he recognizes there s no magic formula. Mostly, he s just amazed. A few weeks ago, Lyndon and his wife Cindy watched in awe as their son Michael, recently ordained a transitional deacon, participated in the Mass for the closing of the Synod in Rome. He is a seminarian at North America College there, and the Mass was televised in the United States. Michael was the deacon for the Mass, explained Lyndon. He chanted the Gospel he got to receive the book from the pope and have the pope s blessing. What was really amazing was just seeing him, he just looked so angelic. Lyndon takes no credit for his son s decision to pursue the priesthood and can only speculate on his openness to the call. If there s anything we ve done that has contributed to the path he s chosen, I d say it s the love and affection his mother has always showered on him and on his brothers and sisters. I think you can see that in his faith. Lyndon and Cindy have four children. Michael, 27, is the second oldest. When the children were younger, Lyndon said he and his wife always pegged another of their boys as the possible priest. Patrick had a goblet and he would do Mass with it everyday, said Lyndon. He was three or four. We always figured Patrick was going down that path at a very young age. But it was Michael who felt a call to the priesthood, and when he began talking about that with his parents, they were pleasantly surprised. He started to think about the calling, said Lyndon. He talked to the folks in the diocese and he talked with us. We were really pleased and supportive. Lyndon said a good priest-friend had a saying that he believes explains Michael s openness to becoming a priest. He always said that faith isn t taught; it s caught. There s no way that seed can ever grow if it s not supported. Making the faith a natural part of everyday life not just Sunday helps foster a love for the Church, said Lyndon. Faith has to be an important part of your life. Of the things I think contribute to that love of the faith is going to Mass regularly, but not leaving Mass behind entirely when you leave. We would have a discussion about the Gospel and the readings and liturgy. I think Michael and his brothers and sister had as much to do with shaping our faith as we did theirs. Back row: Parents Lyndon and Cindy Silloway, and brother Patrick. Front row: Grandfather Deacon Don, brother William, Deacon Michael, sister Jane and her husband Bryan Smith, and grandmother Jane. 3
Dad, I Want to Be a Priest! How to help your children discern their vocations Imagine asking your son what he wants to be when he grows up, and him answering, I want to be a priest! What would your reaction be? Would you be worried or elated or somewhere in between? The truth is that God has a plan for each of your children; he wants them to be happy even more than you do! And their true happiness is found in discovering God s plan for their lives and following it wholeheartedly. So if you re truly concerned about your children s well-being, it makes sense to help them discern God s call. A person s occupation professor, salesman, pilot, writer can change many times over a lifetime, but a vocation is a deep part of a person s identity. Most people, of course, are called to the vocation of marriage. But if your child feels called to a life of service in the Church, don t be afraid. The vast majority of priests, sisters and brothers live happy and fulfilling lives. While they experience sorrow and hardship like every other person, they also experience great joy serving others. So as parents, what can you do to help your children discern their calling in life? The primary thing is to foster openness to God s will; let your sons and daughters know that God has a plan for them. The next time the topic comes up, consider asking a new question: What do you think God wants you to be when you grow up? Home-Grown Vocations No One Is Born a Priest It takes a community to raise a priest; from families who talk about vocations, to parishioners who pray for vocations, to priests themselves, who through lives of compassion and sacrifice, reveal Christ s abundant love. If you know someone who would make a good priest, tell him. And ask him to call our Vocation Office. Your encouragement could make all the difference. [Photo courtesy of the Diocese of St. Augustine] Because everyone s first vocation is to be holy, the most important thing parents can do is to create a home environment where Christian virtue can flourish. Here are a few specific ideas for helping your children discern their particular vocations: Invite a priest, sister, or brother to dinner at your home. Show your children a good example of holy marriage. During the Year for Priests, pray for vocations at dinner. Read and discuss the Bible stories of Mary s response to God (Luke 1:26-39), and Jesus calling the Apostles (Mt 4:18-22). Speak openly about vocations to marriage, priesthood, and religious life. If your child does express interest in priesthood or religious life, be supportive. If you re excited, don t push too hard. If you re apprehensive, trust in God s plan. The best thing you can say is, Whatever God wants for you, I want for you, too. 4
Businessman Heads to Seminary Mark Starr journeys back to the Church and into priestly formation Mark Starr spent eighteen years away from his Catholic faith, time that only made him love the Church more when he finally came home. After growing up Catholic, and even feeling a call to the priesthood at a young age, Mark left the Church when he started college. As the years went by, he got his degree and started an engineering firm, all the while wandering in and out of other denominations. The last church I was a part of shut the doors, they literally shut down, explained Mark. He said during this time he felt a strong call from God to go back to the church of his youth. As I was praying, the Holy Spirit was making it very clear he wanted me to reexamine my roots, and I began to explore coming back to the Catholic Church. Mark attended Catholics Returning Home at a parish in Douglasville, where he rejoined the Church. It was at this parish he met the pastor and the idea of being a priest was rekindled. I discovered he was a later-life vocation himself, said Mark, and I went and talked to him about being a second-career vocation. After that meeting, Mark prayed about the priesthood for nearly five years. In 2006, he applied to the Archdiocese vocations Being in seminary has had its challenges and blessings... leaving behind a business and a home and moving into a house with 150 men, many of them half my age. program and was accepted. Leaving his life in Atlanta was a big step. Mark had spent years as professional engineer and entering seminary meant leaving behind the successful consulting firm he worked so hard to build. Being in seminary has had its challenges and blessings, said Mark. It was challenging leaving behind a business and a home and moving into a house with 150 men, many of them half my age. At 48, Mark is one of the older seminarians at Mount St. Mary s in Emmitsburg, where he is in his second year of theology. But the age gap doesn t intimidate him, and he isn t looking back. I m falling madly in love with the Lord, said Mark of seminary life. I m getting an appreciation for the truth of faith like I ve never experienced before. I m appreciating all of its beauty and traditions, and all it has to offer. And the years away from the Church have simply deepened his love for all our faith has to offer. That time gave me a real appreciation for the Mass, the sacraments, and the beauty of our traditions, said Mark. I m grateful for all I gleaned from my Protestant brothers and sisters. 5
Pins for Priests Raises Funds Seminarians meet their future parishioners in fun-filled fundraiser Families from around the archdiocese took to the alleys and bowled for bucks during a recent fundraiser for our seminarians. Participants in the annual Pins for Priests gathered at a local bowling alley for a morning of fun that featured friendly team competition, donated prizes, and a healthy return for the Vocations Office. The seminarians really had a wonderful time meeting all the families, and the families were so grateful to meet them, said Diana Shertenlieb, who helps coordinate the annual fundraiser. It becomes a mutually supportive relationship the families pray for the young men and the young men pray for the families. The morning includes teams of ten people who pay a fee to participate. There are also auctions and other donations. It s a really nice day for everybody and generates a good amount of money, said Diana, adding the event was in June this year so seminarians could participate. We had a good representation of seminarians. While no seminarian rolled a perfect 300, they all had a great time. Pictured here are (L-R) Brian Baker, Desmond Drummer, Gary Shertenlieb (husband of Diane Shertenlieb), Branson Hipp, Ernie Darby, and Javier Aponte. Pins for Priests is sponsored by the Vocations Office, Regnum Christi, and the Alter Christus Society. To get involved next year, e-mail Diana at mariediana@aol.com. God s Ordinary Call continued from front in love with each and every one of us. That is why he calls us. Have you felt that love? Listen to God calling you. He is calling you to accept and share his love. Trust God s call to you and to those whom you love. God is calling you or someone you know to follow him more closely in priesthood or religious life. I am convinced of that. God knows each of us better than we know ourselves. We will each be happiest when we listen to and follow God s call. How is God calling you right now? In Christ, Fr. Luke Ballman, Vocation Director If you feel called to become a priest, contact the Vocation Director: Fr. Luke Ballman, 404-888-7844, frballman@calledbychrist.com www.calledbychrist.com