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Rev. Matthew McMorrowOrdained to the priesthood May 21, 2005 Born: 9–15–1976 Home Parish: St. Mary, DeKalb, IL |
| I had a gradual development of my calling to priesthood rather than an amazing event that triggered it. When I entered the seminary in 2001, it was just one more movement in how God is constantly blessing me and drawing me into His amazing plans. God has always been calling me to holiness, but being a sinner, I only listen to His promptings some of the time. I thank God for continuing to be patient with me as He prepares me to be a priest. I never thought about being a priest until I was graduating from college. I grew up in a very Catholic family, and they are the most important influence on me both in who I am and in my love for God. My parents are people of prayer and growing up I knew that prayer was something expected of us. We always went to Mass whether it was convenient or not. We didn't always talk about God, but faith was just a given in my family. In high school I was involved in sports and hanging out with my friends, but church was also important to me and the parish youth program got me involved. At church I saw my friends and got to help people. Through retreats my personal faith awoke. This involvement continued in college when I became a youth leader and also got involved at the Newman Center on campus. I dated some in high school and had a girlfriend for three years in college. I say this just to let guys know that being attracted to girls does not mean God is not calling you to the priesthood. If God can call, He can also give the graces that are necessary for this unique calling, including celibacy. After college I became a youth minister and absolutely loved sharing faith with the youth. It was when I was a youth minister that this feeling grew in me that my primary vocation was to serve the Church and not to raising a family. More and more of my time was going to the youth I was serving and I was happy to have an impact for Christ in their lives. After a few years I realized that this was a real call from God to explore priesthood. Then I lived in a parish rectory for a year to teach high school and figure out if the call was real. So here I am in seminary two years later and I am sure that this is where God wants me. I am very happy to be called to priesthood and also humbled by it. It is amazing that the souls of thousands of people will be entrusted to me and that I will be with people at the greatest and worst times of their lives. It is a challenge to allow Christ to work through me and to be seen as Christ's representative in a community of believers. Listen for God's prompting. Strive for holiness. Wherever He is calling you is better than what you have planned. |
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