CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 41 men currently studying for the priesthood in four seminaries.
Twenty-seven men are at St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont. Ten men are studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. One man is finishing up his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and three men are at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Originally from Mexico, Deacon Juan Miguel Sanchez is a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir. He is in the final phase of studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for June 19 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and how his vocation has unfolded as he has progressed in his discernment, the Catholic News Herald recently asked Deacon Sanchez to talk about his journey to the priesthood:
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Deacon Sanchez: The first time I felt the call to the priesthood was when I was 8 to 9 years old. I was serving as an altar boy at the time. The priest of my home parish in Guadalajara, Mexico, was a very dynamic, friendly and encouraging person. It was through his example that I began to consider responding to what God had already inspired in my heart. I believe it is natural for every guy to see in a faithful and holy priest an image to follow. There is a certain natural attraction to the priesthood and the fatherhood they represent. For me, it was that strong and caring figure that would provide my family and the community with a vivid example of how to be a good Catholic. I slowly began to desire to be like him; I wanted that “something” that emanated from him. I always liked to be around the church and I was often involved in the different groups of the parish, but at first I did not want to admit I felt a call to the priesthood, or perhaps I was afraid of the idea.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Deacon Sanchez: This a difficult question for me, for I never wanted to share my desire even when I was very involved in the parish. To me, there were two realities that were in conflict with each other. On one side, I knew that I was being called to the priesthood by having that sense of belonging to the Church. On the other side, and coming from a large family, the figure of the priest seemed to be always alone and that in a way created a sense of rejection to the idea. It was not until later in life that I realized priests are, in fact, never alone.
Not until my late 20s did I begin to share my desire to be a priest with a priest friend of mine and my family. I believe parents can see the attraction and the seeds of vocations in their children: my mom, in particular, would ask me if I wanted to be a priest on several occasions. At the time I told her no, but in my heart I always felt that intuition.
CNH: What type of feedback or advice did you receive?
Deacon Sanchez: Of course, for my parents it was a bit of a surprise coming from a 27-year-old, but all they wanted was to see me happy: “If you think that this is what will make you happy, then we will support you!” they said. Some of my friends began to wonder if I was making the right choice. I remember a coworker telling me, “Are you crazy? You have worked for years to be in the position you are in now and you want to leave it, just like that?” Yes, I had more than what I needed materially, but there was still something missing in my life.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Deacon Sanchez: I began to talk to a priest friend who was instrumental in directing my discernment. I began by helping in my home parish with some catechesis for both children and adults. These required some studies in order to really help them well. I started helping with some retreats in the diocese, as well. Then, I joined school again to finish my GED. It was 12 years since I was formally in school, so it was a little frustrating in the beginning. Having to divide my time between work, volunteering for catechesis and going to school was not easy, but it was rewarding at the end. During this time, I began to go to Perpetual Adoration that was offered at a nearby parish. I went there on my way to class or coming back from work. All these changes in my life helped me to realize that I too was capable of being an instrument for Christ in order to lead others to Him. One of the key elements of my discernment was a strong sense of peace and happiness in serving others, which I had never felt before – along with a sense of personal empowerment when entrusting myself to God’s providential guidance.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Diocese of Charlotte Vocations Office?
Deacon Sanchez: It was during the summer of 2012 and with the help and support of Father Julio Dominguez, who assisted me in every step of my vocation. At first, I was very naïve of the process and in reality I simply followed what I was told. Everyone was understanding of my situation and helped me to be more at ease with it. After contacting the diocese, I received the typical questionnaire form for seminarians, which is a kind of self-examination in itself. Of course, I was nervous in the beginning but I did not want to let anything interfere with what God was placing in front of me.
CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?
Deacon Sanchez: During the summer of 2013, I was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte. At that time, I was assigned to St. Eugene Parish in Asheville to finalize some studies in order to obtain my GED. Everything was providential and all things fell into place, and before I realized it, in one year I was able to finish high school and have all the necessary means to enter seminary.
CNH: What seminaries have you been assigned to?
Deacon Sanchez: In 2013 I was sent to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, to do my college studies there. After four years I was asked to go to the Pontifical North American College in Rome to do my theological studies. I have been here in Rome for four years.
CNH: What have you been doing while in seminary since discerning a vocation to the priesthood?
Deacon Sanchez: There are few aspects in which I have been growing a lot during my time in seminary. The first is the spiritual part of being in seminary. As seminarians, we pray the Liturgy of the Hours both in community and on our own every day. In time this becomes a daily source of intimate interaction with God and a way to strengthen my spiritual bond with the entire Church. At home we always prayed the rosary, so praying the rosary has also been for me a sort of direct spiritual connection with my loved ones – knowing that back home my parents would be praying the rosary at the same time I was. I would follow up with daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament and with some time, particularly towards the end of the day, to do a good examination of conscience.
Secondly, I began to quickly realize how much I needed to prepare myself intellectually and how little I knew about philosophy and theology. I was humbled by the best and seemingly overwhelming task I had taken. However, I was able to be patient with myself and to take every semester one at a time. In the beginning I did not fully understand the relation between the intellectual/academic and the desire to serve God. I am a more practical guy, I thought! I slowly began to realize that the more I learned, the more I would be able to appreciate my position as a seminarian and as someone called to learn and to be prepared to help others. Therefore, I started to read more – in particular, about the lives of the saints.
Thirdly, through the interaction with people at the parish and in the various pastoral ministries, I have grown in love of neighbor and of God. I have come closer to God by contemplating and witnessing the grace of God at work in others.
In summary, I have developed a deeper reliance on God’s divine providence, by developing a richer and better prayer life, by taking all learning as an opportunity given to me by God to exercise my intellect in discovering the Truth, and by encountering Christ in my neighbor.
CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?
Deacon Sanchez: Trust in God’s providence and entrust your whole being to Him. After all, we all are called to holiness, and responding to God’s call to the priesthood can become the first step toward it. I would like to reiterate what St. John Paul II used to say: “Do not be afraid.” If one takes on the task of the priesthood, many blessings follow afterward and God will provide the necessary means if one is truly committed to it.
CNH: Looking back, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation to the priesthood?
Deacon Sanchez: I would say to focus on the fact that this vocation is a response to the intuition that God has placed in my heart. It is not what I want, but a free response to God’s invitation. I know God is who makes me happy, even in the midst of struggles! During difficult moments I always think about the many blessings I have received and all the things I have achieved so far. I always try to be positive and see the good side of things. Even when things are hard, I think of the cross and realize that my situation really is not that bad. If my vocation is a call from God, then all I can do is to go to Him.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Is God calling you?
If you think God may be calling you to a vocation as a priest or religious, the Diocese of Charlotte has resources to help you!
Go online to www.charlottediocese.org/vocations to learn more and connect with someone who can answer your questions and provide discernment guidance.
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 41 men currently studying for the priesthood in four seminaries.
Twenty-seven men are at St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont. Ten men are studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. One man is finishing up his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and three men are at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Darren Balkey, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, is one of those studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and how his vocation has unfolded as he has progressed in his discernment, the Catholic News Herald recently asked Balkey to talk about his journey to the priesthood:
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Balkey: My first sense of a priestly calling was when I started serving Mass, about 9 years old. It seemed natural to want to be near the Word of God and the altar during Holy Mass. Throughout the years, that desire to be near God and bring Him to others stuck around.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Balkey: The priest who was my spiritual director at the time.
CNH: What type of feedback or advice did you get from them?
Balkey: He was very patient with me in college, but challenging in the right way. When I finally let God start opening the door to a vocation, I sent him an email about what was going on in my prayer life and thoughts. He replied, “Well, it’s about time!” I laughed when I read it, and knew that my email had made him laugh, too. That was exactly what I needed, because my own expectations were so much smaller than God’s plan.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Balkey: My vocation grew alive during my studies at Belmont Abbey College. A lot of hours in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel on campus and the Abbey basilica set a strong foundation. I also made retreats with Benedictine and Franciscan communities.
Right after I graduated, I started working in a behavioral health facility. There, I worked in a role of guardianship, and probably a lot like humble St. Joseph, I felt very inadequate! The youth I served were very much in need of a true, loving father, such as only the Eternal Father can be. That experience cast priesthood into an amazing light. My hunger for the sacraments, prayer and Scripture became voracious. I knew that anything less than service of God would leave me empty.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Vocations Office at the diocese?
Balkey: I initiated contact with Father Christopher Gober in the summer 2015, as I registered for Quo Vadis Days (the diocese’s summer discernment camp for young men). That October, he helped me into the seminarian application process, which I concluded in April 2016.
CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?
Balkey: I was accepted by the diocese May 10, 2016, and began formation and studies in August of that year.
CNH: Tell us about the types of things you have been doing since you began your discernment process throughout your time in seminary.
Balkey: I have been praying the Angelus on a daily basis for a while now. The Incarnation is key for a Catholic, and I love pausing for that reflection in my day. The Liturgy of the Hours, which distributes the psalms throughout the daily routine of the Church, is an important root. Holy Mass is the gathering point for the Universal Church as well as the seminary community, and that helps me remember to gather and present all of my intentions, anxieties and priorities to the Lord.
This past Nov. 23, I received my officer’s commission as an ensign in the Chaplain Candidate Program of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The People of God in Charlotte will certainly benefit from my priesthood, and I am also making myself available to serve as a naval chaplain to military personnel and their families. My first years of priestly service will be in the Diocese of Charlotte, after which I can receive an assignment to commands in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. I am excited to see how both the civilian parish and military setting are able to enrich the ways I serve the faithful. Bishop Jugis has been extremely kind and generous in allowing me to pursue this dimension of priestly ministry.
CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?
Balkey: Saints are like dominoes: they put others into motion. Turn to the saints and implore their help! The saints I have most grown to love worked hard to be (and find) tremendous friends. Start being that sort of guy by doing something small – the rosary, daily Mass, etc. – and sharing that with your friends. Whether you are called to priesthood, religious life or marriage, that will become clear through the saints’ intercession.
CNH: Looking back on your discernment period over the years, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation to the holy priesthood?
Balkey: First, time spent in silence. Second, true friendship with Jesus, the saints, many good priests and my brother seminarians, have been key to my discernment. One moment, though, sticks out. I interviewed Father Tom Kessler (pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville) for a class assignment. He mentioned something that really cut me to the heart. Men, he explained, often go to seminary trying to get built up big and smart and holy enough to be a priest. He rocked my world when he challenged me to ask God the opposite: “Am I little enough, like the Blessed Mother, to say ‘yes’ and let Him make me His priest?”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Is God calling you?
If you think God may be calling you to a vocation as a priest or religious, the Diocese of Charlotte has resources to help you!
Go online to www.charlottediocese.org/vocations to learn more and connect with someone who can answer your questions and provide discernment guidance.