Several higher schoolers in the diocese spent four days at the Pontifical College Josephinum in July discerning the priesthood.
Quo Vadis, which is for young men entering grades nine to 12, offers Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Adoration. The multi-day event, held annually each summer, also includes time for reflection, interaction with priests and seminarians, activities, sports and fellowship.
A semblance of a summer camp and retreat, the event offered young men in the Columbus diocese a glimpse into the life of a seminarian and priest. High schoolers were invited to come and contemplate their vocation.
Several expressed the benefit of discernment through prayer, activities and fraternity.
“It has definitely educated me on what being a priest means, and I think it’s helped a lot — it has helped me discern more about becoming a priest,” said Levi Bussey, 17, who is entering his senior year and is homeschooled. “I would love to be a priest.”
Bussey, who belongs to Columbus St. Patrick Church, recognized many decisions facing him as he approaches his senior year. Thoughts of college, career and next steps can be overwhelming.
Quo Vadis provided an opportunity to step away from the noise.
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“You’re getting to the point where you have to start making vocation choices and every other choice that’s going to shape … your life for a long time,” he admitted. “Retreats like Quo Vadis help with that because you can get a break from some of the other choices, and you can focus more on vocation.
“Everyone here loves God. They want to discern the right path, and they want to help you discern the right path.”
As teenage boys, many don’t yet know the right path. Several attested to mixed feelings between marriage and the priesthood.
Spending four days and three nights at the seminary helped to imagine life as a seminarian.
Paul Eberhard, 15, who is entering his sophomore year and is homeschooled, attended Quo Vadis for a second year. The Sunbury St. John Neumann parishioner attributed Quo Vadis’ daily prayer with other faithful young men as helpful for discernment.
“It really allows you to deepen your relationship with God and just talk to Him,” he said. “I think that’s a big thing because that’s what we’re all here for – to listen to what Jesus has in store for us and at least try to figure that out.”
Eberhard said he is considering a religious vocation. Close relationships with priests growing up led him to consider the possibility.
“So many priests in my life are just great role models. They’re the happiest people I know,” he said.
Should Eberhard discern a calling to the priesthood, he said he would be open to the vocation.
“It doesn’t mean that I might not wrestle with that or struggle with it because, personally, I would love to get married – I would love to have a family and go to college, but I’m not against it,” he said of being a priest. “It’s not that it wouldn’t be a sacrifice, but there’s also a lot of joy that comes with it.
Nicholas Schmelzer, 19, a seminarian for the Columbus diocese who completed his first year of formation, attended Quo Vadis annually in high school. The Lancaster St. Bernadette parishioner, who was homeschooled, entered seminary after graduation.
He had long been interested in the priesthood.
Quo Vadis “helped resolve doubts like, ‘Maybe I can’t do this.’ Well, I just fooled around with all the guys who are doing it,” Schmelzer recalled from his interactions with young men in seminary. “It’s like, of course you can do it. They’re just normal guys.”
Diocesan seminarians are present for the duration of Quo Vadis. They share their testimonies with the young men and offer a witness.
“It was just like looking into the future,” Schmelzer recalled of attending Quo Vadis prior to entering the seminary, “seeing that beauty that the future had in store for me and the gifts that God had in store for me.”
Juan Manuel Acevedo Satillan, 17, a senior at Delaware Rutherford B. Hayes High School and member of Delaware St. Mary Church, participated in Quo Vadis this summer. He attended last year and was interested in returning.
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Acevedo Satillan is praying about entering seminary next fall.
He attributed seminarian testimonies for his openness to the possibility. He recognized that, should he enter, commitment to seminary is not a profession of life-long vows. Some men discern marriage while studying to be a priest.
“I’ve always been on the fence,” he said of his vocation. “There are some periods of my life where I think, ‘Oh, I should definitely become a priest.’ Other periods, I’m like, ‘Oh, I should definitely get married.’
“Right now, I think I’m leaning toward entering seminary. I think that Quo Vadis really helps you with getting there.”
He appreciated the experience’s balance of prayer and activities, especially fraternity with young men considering their vocation.
“It’s really a lot of fun, and of course, while everybody’s probably focused on discernment, there’s also some leisure time to make the whole process of discerning less stressful,” he said.
“There’s zero pressure,” Eberhard added. “You’re giving four days to the Lord. You will grow as a man; you’ll grow in your faith.
“You might say this isn’t for me, but you’ll be a better person. And then, you can focus on whatever other vocation the Lord has for you, whether that be a different religious life or married life – whatever it is. I just say, don’t be afraid to try it out.”