Office of Vocations at 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806 US - Try It, You'll Like It! (Kyle Hill)

3rd Theology - Kenrick Seminary

The seminary was not always on my to-do list. In fact, I had not even thought about becoming a priest until I was 19 years old. My high school experience was very similar, I think, to many other people’s experience. I enjoyed sports so I played baseball and golf on the high school teams and tried as hard as I could to fit in especially with the in-crowd. When I went to college I knew that I could become anyone I wanted and no one would know any different so I switched to contacts, got a new haircut, and bought a nice car. And what do you know, it worked. I became someone. Exactly what that someone was wasn;t exactly who I really was, but I was popular. I even started to date someone that I actually could see spending the rest of my life with. All was right with the world, or so it seemed. After a while I began to feel unfulfilled even with the perfect life. At this time a couple of seminarians from Fargo, ND came to talk to me about the seminary. My grandmother had put them up to it. My initial reaction was to say “Thanks, but no thanks guys. I am only doing this to get my grandmother off my back.” However, I knew deep down that there was something right about this. At least right enough to check into. That wouldn’t hurt, right, just going to visit a seminary? So I did and I had never felt more like I belonged somewhere in my life. I didn’t even have to be someone I was not, these guys liked me for me. I had finally found where I fit in. That was 6 years ago and in a few months I am going to vow my life to the Church forever. The thought of giving myself to the Church used to send chills down my spine, but I have come to understand the beauty of these promises and can say that I am now ready to offer my life as a sacrifice to the People of God. My advice to any young man who is thinking about a priestly vocation is to think about it. Yes, you can become a priest. Allow God to speak to you about what He wants for you in the future and remain open to the possibility of priesthood. Also, don’t wait for someone to ask if you would like to visit a seminary or if you have ever thought about a priestly vocation to follow up on it. Lastly, the seminary is not for people who know they are absolutely called to the priesthood. It is a place of discernment, a place of powerful listening to the voice of God. No one knows when they enter the seminary if they are going to leave as a lay person or an ordained minister. The certainty for all of the men that enter is that they are better men for having spent time in the seminary. Time in the seminary will make you better for whatever God has in store from you. In closing, may God continue to bless you as you discern His calling for you in your life. Know that His will is your ultimate happiness and rest assured that I will keep you all in prayer. Your Brother in Christ, Kyle J. Hill

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