Hello All,
God bless you all.
As many of my friends and family know, I left the seminary in December 2009 to continue my discernment outside the setting of the Holy Trinity Seminary. Upon leaving, I knew that I would need to discern God's will in my life.
Many questions were going through my head, "Should I forget all about being a Priest?" "Maybe I could start dating now?" "Is God wanting me to go to religious life?" "Where to go, what should I do?"
My life was in a flux. I knew that I needed to trust in God through it all. I made a few goals for myself. I would get a job (preferably in ministry), I would finish my degree and continue to discern God's will, especially the possibility of returning as a diocesan seminarian or a Salesian seminarian.
Upon making this decision I started to research the Salesians more in depth. I discovered a retreat called the Salesian Spirituality Weekend (SSW). I knew right away that this would be a great opportunity for me. It was a weekend that teaches you the Salesian way of youth ministry and the Spirituality of St. John Bosco. I also saw this as an opportunity to stay an extra night to visit the Salesian Formation House; everything fell into place and I was on my way.
During the weekend I fell in love with the Salesians. I knew that I wanted more...little did I know how much more I would get and how quickly.
Through a series of Holy Spirit moments (as Teresa Brinkman would say) I am moving out of my home town and parish of 20+ years to Philadelphia as a Salesian Domestic Volunteer. I will be working at St. Martin de Tours Parish in Philadelphia starting July 2010.
More info and photos to come soon.
God Bless,
Joseph
