Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Archdiocese of Louisville seminarians recently shared personal stories about early moments when they felt drawn to the priesthood. The accounts, provided anonymously, reflect a range of experiences from childhood through adulthood.

One seminarian recalled, “Before I could receive Communion, I remember being at Mass and being captivated by the actions of the priest. I would hurry home and play Mass with my parents and siblings, and I would tell everyone that I wanted to be a priest. That tug on my heart never went away as I grew up.”

Another shared a memory from middle school: “During Holy Mass one Sunday when I was in middle school, during his homily, my pastor said: ‘My job as a priest is to help people get to Heaven.’ Years later, I remembered this moment and I thought: ‘That’s what I have to do.’ ”

A sense of belonging to the liturgy influenced another response: “After I entered high school, I was no longer needed to serve Mass at my home parish. But when I left the sanctuary and sat in the pews, the Mass just didn’t feel right. My home pastor told me that might be a sign I was called to be a priest, and sure enough, my call began with that attachment to the liturgy.”

Others described more gradual realizations or encouragement from those around them. One seminarian wrote: “When I was 14, when I was imagining my future, a voice came in my mind: ‘How about becoming a priest?’ From that time on, this idea has never gone.” Another added: “My pastor asked me several times if I had thought about being a priest. At the moment he asked, I brushed it off, but now I see that seeds were being laid.”

The influence of serving as an altar boy also appeared in these recollections. “As I shared in the story of my vocation, I first felt drawn to the priesthood when I began serving as an altar boy during my middle school years. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that calling meant, but the experience planted a seed in my heart.”

Some seminarians noted their sense of calling became clearer during college or university years. One stated: “It wasn’t until my university years, when I joined the diocesan vocation discernment group, that my sense of calling became clearer. With greater maturity and self-awareness, I was able to reflect seriously on my life’s direction and began to recognize that the priesthood might be the path God was inviting me to follow.” Another reflected on taking steps toward seminary after graduation: “After completing my university studies, I made the decision to apply to the seminary. Up to now, I continue to feel that God is calling me, and I experience a deep sense of peace and clarity as I walk this path of consecrated life.”

Spontaneous moments also played roles for some individuals. A seminarian recalled sharing his thoughts after confession: “In college, after confession, I told our chaplain I think I may have a vocation to the priesthood. I hadn’t planned on saying anything, but the Holy Spirit spoke through me at that moment. That was the first time I had told anyone I was discerning a vocation.”

Encouragement sometimes came from unexpected sources: “When I was in the 5th or 6th grade, I was told by an elderly lady at my parish that I should be a priest, and that she could ‘see it in my eyes.’ ”

Not all described early certainty about their vocation; some experienced it later in life or upon returning more deeply into faith practices such as attending Mass or praying.

These responses illustrate varied journeys toward considering religious life within the Archdiocese of Louisville.