Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. Mary’s,

At Fr. Dominic’s invitation, I’d like to share a little bit about myself with all of you. As many of you know, I am a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark, originally from Westfield, New Jersey, and will begin my first year of theology (and second year overall) this fall at Immaculate Conception Seminary. I hope, if it is God’s will, to be ordained a priest in four years.

Prior to entering the Seminary, I attended Westfield High School, and studied philosophy and theology at Boston College. As a younger person, I was not very religious and was never active much in my home parish, but I was blessed to have a number of friends and family members who were very devout Christians, and whose example always impressed and edified me.

Around the time I was fifteen years old, I began to feel the Holy Spirit working more intensely in my life, especially through their words and example, drawing me to “Come and see” (Jn 1:39) and experience for myself the faith that gave them such joy and peace in their lives. Little by little, I began to fall in love with Christ and his Church, and eventually started to feel that the Lord might be calling me to serve him as a priest, and devote my life to bringing this joy to other people. During college, I was blessed to get to know many good, holy priests, and with their guidance and encouragement, decided to apply to the Seminary. I greatly enjoyed my first year there, and am excited to return in the fall.

St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading, “You were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal 5:13-14). I find his insight to be quite beautiful, and especially relevant to anyone who, like me, might be discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Wherever the Lord is calling us, he has called us first and foremost, as his beloved sons and daughters, to share in his freedom, a freedom which is not self-seeking, but reveals itself in the self-giving love of Jesus Christ. Only in surrendering our lives to God and living in service to our neighbor do we find true freedom, happiness, and peace. As we heard our Lord say in last week’s Gospel, “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Lk 9:24). Our greatest fulfillment is in doing his will, and echoing the words of Mary, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

Being here at St. Mary’s and doing what little I can to serve you all has certainly done a lot to bring this truth home to me. It’s been such a privilege to be part of parish life, and to get to know you all (though I ask your continued patience; I’m terrible with names!), and I’ve found assisting with the liturgy and bringing communion to sick and homebound parishioners to be especially joyful parts of my experience here. Know that you’re all in my prayers, and I ask that you please pray for me, that I may always know, love, and embrace God’s will.

In Jesus and Mary,

Philip Micele