We are so grateful to Deacon Kevin and Deacon Paul, seminarians at St. Paul Seminary, for sharing their personal journeys with the students of SCCS. The two visited several primary and intermediate classrooms and visited with the 7th and 8th graders as a large group. In turn, middle school students have each spiritually adopted a seminarian and pray for him daily.
“The Lord uses all of it – all of our gifts and all of our weaknesses,” Deacon Kevin explains to 7th and 8th grade students during a recent visit to St. Croix Catholic to speak on vocations. It is from firsthand experience he speaks. “I was really shy growing up. I never dreamed I’d do anything that would require me to get up in front of people. Yet, here I stand. The Lord is using my weakness along with my gifts. Through me, the Lord might be encouraging some of you who think you’re way too shy to do this.”
Deacon Kevin shared with the students that he never really thought about being a priest; instead, he was interested in maybe doing something with art or mathematics, or banging on a drum. It wasn’t until he spent quiet time in prayer asking the Lord what He wanted him to do that he started to feel called to the priesthood. When asked how he knew he was being called, Deacon Kevin explained, “It wasn’t like the heavens opened up and I heard a big voice; instead, it was simple ‘what if’ kind of thoughts, others affirming these thoughts, and a gradual journey of confidence.”
Deacon Paul noted he started copying the priests when he was in elementary school. At the time, it was probably a distraction, but again he looks back and now sees how the Lord eventually used this in his discernment process. In 7th grade, he had to change schools – academics were harder and making friends was even harder. He started visiting the Adoration Chapel just to get through the day and it was there that he learned to listen to God’s call. As a teen, he also attended Extreme Faith Camp where he realized that it was really only God’s love that defined him – it wasn’t academics, it wasn’t friends, and it wasn’t even his dream truck. In high school, he participated in mission trips to Mexico that really opened his eyes. He was amazed that those living in extreme poverty were completely and totally happy and yet, all they had was faith. Deacon Paul shared with the kids that as he ventured through high school, he became more and more comfortable with being the person God was calling him to be. It was when he was asked to be the chaplain of the high school football team that he realized others were starting to look up to him because he was striving to live a life of holiness.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5