By Father Mark McCormick

Last fall, I attended the National Conference for Diocesan Vocation Directors and learned about a six-week discernment group to help high school, college, and young adult men to learn more about the life of a diocesan priest and to discern the voice of Jesus in their hearts. The program uses Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s book, “Priests for the Third Millennium.” Participants pray through and discuss different aspects of the priesthood: Priestly Identity, the Eucharist in the Life of the Priest, the Sacrament of Penance, Preaching, and Parish Priesthood.

Fr. Kerry Prendiville and I led a group of men from the Rapid City Newman Center through the program and we included a service project as part of our small discernment group — we walked the streets of downtown Rapid City, encountering and engaging the poor. We offered them hot coffee with all the fixings, plus some snacks. It was a chance to simply be with the homeless and the poor in our community. We also extended an invitation to pray with them. I wanted to share some inspiring testimonies with you from the young men who went through this small discernment group this past January. I know it will stir your heart and challenge you at the same time.

Henry Fritzler
“The small discernment group was a great experience for me, one that I can use to help me try and follow God’s will for my future.

“The service project was an amazing insight that I will remember for a long time. Initially I was hesitant about going out into the streets to provide coffee for the homeless, but the preparation and prayer that morning really strengthened our brotherhood and my resolve that we would go out together. You have to trust the encounter to the Lord and not be afraid to initiate a friendly conversation or gesture. Almost everybody we encountered wanted prayer when we asked them and there were some beautiful reactions to God’s love for them through prayer. One of my favorite parts of the experience was attempting to learn the names of all the people I met and seeing the different personalities. We continually ran into one man named Leroy along all the different locations we went to. He wanted to chat every single time and would never fail to keep telling jokes. The day was one of going out to others and initiating an act of generosity. I now have a newfound confidence that I can and need to love the poor, a group of people where Christ is present.”

Jake Kerzman
“I am forever grateful to have brothers around me that can lift me up and are not afraid to let me know when I am blind. There is a reason Jesus sent the apostles out two by two; we need each other to lean on. We read, discussed, and shared with each other what it means to be a man, a priest, and a servant in these times through Cardinal Dolan’s wisdom. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Luke Christen
“I grew up in a strong Catholic household so I would say priesthood has been on my mind from a young age. However, I would say joining this group was my first step in seriously considering the vocation. The topics covered provided a deeper layer of understanding of parish priesthood that had previously been unbeknownst to me. The importance of a priest as a spiritual father was one thing that continued to stand out to me through the journey.

“The beatitudes of Jesus took on new meaning for me during our day of being with the poor and homeless. There was a gentleman by the name of Calvin. He had just received a cup of hot coffee and we chatted with him for a short while. Then he moved on as we were distributing coffee to other individuals. We continued to walk and as we approached another group. There was Calvin and he had given his cup of coffee to another individual who was in need. Matthew’s first beatitude, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” became all the clearer that morning. Those who had little to their name were all the happier to give what they had to the even less fortunate. The experience provided a wonderful opportunity to see God where before I had refused to look.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this discernment group. It gave me a deeper understanding of the priestly vocation, as well as the chance to see and hear my brothers and sisters of Christ.”

Ryan Hardy
“Participating in the men’s discernment group was a great opportunity to grow in faith and trust with other young men who are serious about their faith and have a desire to follow God’s will. Being part of a group of men discerning how to best serve Jesus by our lives also facilitated the opportunity to minister to the homeless members of our community on the streets of Rapid City, which was a way of serving Christ that I would not have sought out or been comfortable doing alone had I just been discerning on my own. In addition to the fellowship that came with our regular meetings and outings, I found that having a group setting to discuss vocational discernment in was particularly helpful. It allowed us to be a bit more open and prayerful with each other, as we all were able to relate to each other with similar questions, thoughts, and desires.”

If you want more information on this small discernment group method to help the high school and college age men and women in your parish hear the voice of Christ, please give me a call! I would be happy to visit with you. This discernment group can be conducted via Zoom as well. Let’s visit!