Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Father Cole Kennett shared his perspective on vocations during National Vocations Awareness Week in an interview with the Southern Nebraska Register. He described his own path to priesthood as unexpected but ultimately a response to what he called a divine invitation.

"I didn’t always want to be a priest, but the Lord definitely invited me into it, and so I said yes, which was kind of terrifying, which I think is a commentary on any vocation, because every vocation is an invitation," Kennett said. He emphasized that vocations are fundamentally about whether individuals believe God seeks a relationship with them and invites them into specific ways of life.

Reflecting on his ministry, Father Kennett highlighted that accompanying others in their spiritual journey has brought him the greatest fulfillment. "The most fulfillment I’ve found as a priest is accompanying people and directly aiding them and affirming them in their relationship with God, which takes on various forms. Obviously, the sacraments are the most prolific and profound way to do that. But then outside the sacraments, there’s a lot of just personal conversations about what the Lord’s saying in prayer that then we talk about and unpack and try to come to a conclusion, clear conclusion, of what the Lord said and what he’s inviting someone to do. So I would say accompaniment is ... maybe the most holistic way to describe that."

He also discussed how witnessing priests’ reverence during sacraments influenced his understanding before entering seminary. Now tasked by Bishop Conley with administering sacraments at St Michael’s parish, Kennett sees this role as both a blessing for himself and an opportunity for others: "So now, as one who is given the responsibility of administering the sacraments, I see, like every day, it is just an invitation to not only revere the sacraments myself, but then be the steward of the sacraments. Bishop Conley has personally given me the responsibility to administer here at St Michael’s. So in light of that, it’s this constant place of being blessed by them, myself and in and through those experiences, then inviting people to enter into those sacraments, if they so choose..."

When asked why vocations matter for the Church community, Kennett explained: "Vocations are important to the Church because it’s people’s definitive and personal response to an invitation to follow Jesus...a vocation is a response to an invitation, which means that the Lord Himself has personally invited us into this way of life..." He added that embracing one’s vocation requires daily commitment: "And some days it’s like, 'Jesus, I need the grace to just say yes again today.'"

Kennett noted several moments when he feels closest to Jesus: during Mass at consecration; while hearing confessions; reading scripture—especially from the Gospels; sitting in silence; and listening to others share their own vocational journeys.

A video featuring Father Kennett discussing these themes can be found on the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln YouTube channel.