Fall 2021
Friends,
By the grace of God, I graduated from the University of St. Thomas and Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the end of May. As many of you already know, along with my graduation, I also stepped out of formation for the Priesthood for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Essentially, this means is that I have discerned that, at least for the present, formation is not where the Lord is calling me to be. This move was something that I really had not expected even as recently as the end of last semester — but, as the Spring Semester played out, it became clear that the Lord had other plans in store for my near future.
My motto soon became, “When the Lord calls, who am I to refuse Him?” And, even for imperfectly as I’ve held to that, it remains so today; this is a spiritual gift/fruit and deep conviction that I gained from my time at SJV. I am deeply indebted to my brother seminarians and spiritual fathers for helping the Lord in the process of instilling that within me over the course of my four years there. Foremost among are Father Michael Becker and Father Joseph Kuharski at SJV, and my pastor and both vocation directors here at home. I am thankful, too, to the Bishop of Grand Rapids for the opportunity to be a seminarian for the Diocese. I think the number of seminarians coming out of IHM points to the holiness of Father Troy’s holy witness and leadership over the course of the last decade-and-a-half; and that this is mirrored, in a sense, at the Diocesan level. Having gotten to know the group of men from whom the future ordained leadership in our local Church will be formed, I can confidently say that our future is hopeful!
Undoubtedly, though, for those who have been following, a number of questions that arise from all this for me. Not least among these is (“simply”), what does it mean for me? In total honesty, I admit that I have been facing this — and a whole host of related questions — myself! The Lord works in rather mysterious ways; right now, I’m just following where/as He guides. While there have certainly been blessings for me in this, it would be a lie to say that this summer hasn’t been marked by varying degrees of uncertainty on my part. The Lord is trustworthy! — but, all the same, I can’t deny that His timing can be confusing and even frustrating. (For the record, I’m doubtful that He Himself would deny this!). God likes to stick to His own schedule!
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned over the course of the last four-plus months is this: I am not God! That He is the omnipotent God and omnibenevolent Father; that He is the one who knows best; not just a deity who would give me whatsoever I may think I want at any given point in time. (IHM-ers will undoubtedly recognize these as Father Troy-isms.) And, perhaps even more importantly, He has really re-taught me and re-enforced in my heart the truth — that the reality is that the fact that I am His son is a profoundly good thing! Thus, as I’ve transitioned over these last few months into what is, at the very least, a ‘break period’ from formal formation (something which I looked forward to more than prepared for), I have been reflecting a lot on my relationship with Him. How weak my trust in Him is, for example; how well He always takes care of me when I place total trust in Him, and how much need I have to decrease, in order that He may increase. Glory be to Him for bestowing the Truth on me, that I might implore His mercy more and more! (Saint Eugène de Mazenod’s Prayer for a Perfect Conversion, which I first came upon during the Fall of 2019, remains one of my favorites for this exact reason!)
At any rate, that plan has unfolded quite fast over these last few weeks. Earlier this month, I accepted an offer to become the Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation and Liturgy at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish and Saint John Mission in the Archdiocese of Seattle. The church is located in Everett, just outside of Seattle proper — this is certainly a big change for me, and, again, not one that I had anticipated at all! But, the Lord’s Providence remains unrivaled in goodness.
So, as I prepare to begin my move less than a week from now, I humbly ask for your prayers — that I might be constantly mindful of the Lord’s majesty, dominion, and, above all, His love for me through it all. I am all-too aware that I will be needing His help in the coming months perhaps more than ever; I find consolation in the reminder that “[even] if we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself”.
Be assured that you all remain in my prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. The support of so many people over this four-plus-year-long journey has sustained me in countless moments of doubt; my gratitude for that has not diminished in the least.
In Christ,
Max
