b'NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE, continuedBeing Formed to be a Priest of Jesus Christby JOE WAGNER Seminarian for the Archdiocese of AtlantaOn May 29th of this year, I will kneel before Archbishopsacrifices that came with the priesthood. Gregory Hartmayer and be ordained a Deacon, devoting my- Eventually, the Lord helped me see the vocation to the self to the ministry of the Church for the rest of my life. Thepriesthood in a whole new way. I had been approaching the following summer in 2022, I will make my way again into thecall to the priesthood as a huge sacrifice and giving up ev-Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta anderything that I had to serve God and His be ordained a priest of Jesus Christ. It hasChurch. Well, it certainly is a sacrifice, but trulybeenawonderfuljourneythroughso is any vocation that our Lord calls us seminary and there is honestly no placeto. However, I began to see the priest-I would rather be or nothing else I wouldhood as a huge gift that the Lord was try-rather be doing than being formed to be aing to give to me. I just didnt have the ca-priest of Jesus Christ.pacity yet to receive this gift, this pearl of Before I entered seminary in 2015, I re- great price. This huge gift would be what ceived a bachelors degree in accountingultimatelysatisfiesandfulfillsme.This and then an MBA from Kennesaw Stategift will also bring about my own sanctifi-University. I worked at a public account- cation as well as the sanctification of so ing firm in Atlanta for about four years un- many others.til I finally said yes to entering seminary. ItWhenIfinallyenteredseminaryin took me a while to say yes to entering the2015, I received an overwhelming flood seminary as I wrestled with the calling forof peace and joy. There have been some many long years.ups and downs in seminary, but this flood I still remember very vividly the first callof peace and joy have continued as my to the priesthood that I received from thedesire for the priesthood has grown as Lord. I remember the exact time of daywell as the affirmation of the calling. Many and the exact place I was sitting. I wasbeautiful opportunities have entered my sitting in the 2nd pew on the left side at St. Catherines inlife throughout my time in seminary. I had a chance to study Kennesaw, the parish I attended during college. I heard theSpanish in Guatemala and serve as a chaplain in a childrens Lord speak these profound words in the depths of my soul,hospital. I was able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in the Joe, I want you to be my priest. At this point in my life, I hadHoly Land as well as celebrate World Youth Day in Krakow, neveroncethoughtPoland. These joyful and aboutthepriesthoodbeautifulexperiences eventhoughIgrewcontinue to fill my heart up in a good, Catho- with gratitude. The Lord lic family. I had alwaysis never outdone in gen-desired to get marriederosity.andhaveabigfam- I cant be more ily. Needless to say, Ithankfulfortheforma-was very startled andtionIhavereceived shocked at this call toover the last 6 years. I the priesthood. have been more deeply Forthenextsever- formed as a man, as a al years, I tried to rundisciple of Jesus Christ, away from this callingand God willing in a lit-andhonestlysup- tle over a year, a priest presseditwheneverof Jesus Christ. After all it came up in prayer. Iof the wrestling with the continued to ask God(From left to right): Mom: Cathi Sister: Alise Niece: Landree Dad: Ed Sister: Catiecall to the priesthood in to send me a wife andNephew: Camden Brother in Law: Patrick Me : Joe Brother in Law: Gregthe beginning, I couldnt I would faithfully serveNieces: Kenzie, Addyson and Lilah be more grateful for the Him and the Church as a married man. Through all of this,immense gift of the priesthood that the Lord has offered to the Lord was very persistent in continuing to call me to theme. There is nothing else I would rather be doing than pre-priesthood. Persistent, yet gentle. I continued struggling toparing to lay my life down to serve God and his people as a overcome all of my fears of entering seminary and all of thepriest of Jesus Christ. 93'