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Seminarians for the Diocese of London study at St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario. Below is some brief information about our seminarians, in their own words. (Please note that Fr. Danny Santos is now Vocation Director as of July 2, 2019)
James Martin
Matthew Sawyer
Steven Eckert
Deacon Rob Renaud
Andrew Roelands
Deacon Phil Guimaraes
Tony Joseph (T.J.) Vandermeer
James Martin
St. Patrick, Merlin
Arts II
“Now pour the water”, “Are you sure?”, “Yes”. “Right now?”. “Yes”. This was my very first experience as an altar sever. I would like to say I served perfectly from the beginning, but that would be would be incorrect. In time altar serving would become second nature to me. It was in these moments after mass when parishioners at St. Patrick’s (Merlin) would say to me, “You would make a great priest one day”. I was quick to brush off such comments as I didn’t want to think about becoming a priest. The comments would persist, though, as I continued to serve. Eventually I would have conversations with different priests. The talks with them would usually end with the priest saying to me, “You should think about becoming a priest”. I would eventually conclude that the vocation to the priesthood is certainly something I needed to take more seriously.
As time went on, the thought of becoming a priest would slip away. So too would my service on the altar. Following high school, I received a diploma in Business Accounting. For the next few years I would find myself working within different companies and having time to attend the regular 10:00 am Mass at St. Patrick’s once again. This is when I would see the need for altar serving at my parish. I remember praying to God, asking to be back on the altar. My prayers were answered. All I had to do now, was show up and participate. After a few weeks of serving, the comments would come flooding back. This time more people would come to me and say, “You’re meant to be a priest”. Some would even ask if I was a seminarian!
Not long after, I would attend a Come and See weekend at St. Peter’s Seminary. The answers I received at the time did not lead me to the priesthood right away. In due time, however, I began to realize that I must place my trust fully in God. To be truly happy, I must do His will and not my own. This began the process of discernment and admission to St. Peter’s Seminary.
As I sit here now at St. Peter’s, I still do not know where my journey will end or which direction I must go. But if I continue to trust in God, I know that I will be on the right path.
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Matthew Sawyer
Matthew Sawyer
St. Vincent de Paul, Mitchell, Ontario
Theology I
Growing up in a devout Catholic family, the faith was shared with me at an early age. During elementary school, I quickly became known as the “priest” due to my love for religion class and how often I answered faith questions from my teacher and the visiting parish priest questions correctly. I had even celebrated “Mass” at home for my family as a young boy! The call to actively discern the priesthood, however, was always supressed since I quickly grew tired of the jokes my peers were making, and the fact that I thought I was being called to married life. About two weeks before my High School graduation, I heard God loud and clear, and this time, couldn’t ignore him. After a fifth high school year to attain the necessary university level courses, I attended a “Come and See” discernment weekend at St. Peter’s Seminary and knew that this was the place I needed to be. I entered first year philosophy in the fall of 2011. After two years of attending St. Peter’s, I left after our 2013 final exams due to academic struggles and decided to leave formation, so I could figure out if the priesthood was really where God was calling me.
Although I wasn’t sure of where God was taking me at the time, I continued to pray and to participate in parish life through altar serving. My parents and parish priest encouraged me to at least finish my undergraduate degree, as I had already dedicated a lot of time and money into it. So, I decided to continue studying as a part-time student as well as taking some years off to work. It was during this time away from the seminary that I felt God calling me back. After a lot of self reflection, I came to realize that I wasn’t ready in 2011 to enter formation, but now I felt ready. After introducing myself to the vocation director, Fr. Patrick Beneteau, and I joined the discernment group in London. Through these monthly gatherings and individual meetings with the vocation director, I prepared myself to return in the fall of 2018.
I would like to extend my encouragement to those seeking their vocation in life. Make sure to consistently meet with a parish priest or spiritual director, who can accompany you through this confusing time. Also, when things get tough, cling to prayer and ask God for strength moving forward and persevere! Sometimes your path ahead, isn’t always the most direct.
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Steven EckertOn the Marian day of August 22, 1982 I was baptized into the Catholic Church. It was my grandmother’s birthday and we were with my family at the family cottage. The priest who baptized me was a regular guest of my grandparents. He was a priest who was present in the schools when my dad was young too. I had received the sacraments and after confirmation I felt an urge to speak about my faith. Which, in today’s world, it is not always easy. Years later I had volunteered at a Christian school in Africa as a teacher, teaching eight to thirteen year olds. I went to help combat the poverty there and with time my heart and mind were opened to the existence of many types of poverty people experience. When I returned home I joined the Knights of Columbus. They provided opportunity and fraternity to do charitable activities and support many causes. A trip to visit the grave of Fr. Stephen Eckert, in Milwaukee, opened me to be more receptive to where God could call me. I returned to the sacrament of confession and felt the Lord calling me to “come, step out of the boat”, as Peter had done on the Sea of Galilee. I made the step and it led me to King’s College and St. Peter’s to study philosophy and theology, with the hope of becoming a priest for the diocese of London.
Back to topI was born and raised in Chatham to a loving and prayerful family, as the youngest of four siblings. Being raised in a Catholic family I was surrounded by positive role models, such as priests, brothers and nuns and lay persons who worked as youth ministers or who had an involvement in ministries such as the Christ in Others Retreat. I was particularly inspired by those who dedicated their lives to serving the poor, and especially those who advocated for unborn children and single parent families.
At the end of my high school year at Ursuline College "The Pines", I still thought about the priesthood, however I needed more time to discern and reflect. Was this the right time to enter into the Seminary? Should I date a bit more first? It was my father, who worked as a Social Worker for a time in his young adulthood, who suggested that I apply for my Bachelors of Social Work at University of Windsor.
As a Social Worker, I felt God's hand guiding me into situations and into people's challenges where the talents He gave me could be best put to use to help them. I felt as though I was happy, and thought that life was set. I had a house, I had a car, and stable finances. I went through a rough patch, however, after I lost my father to cancer, which led me to rethink my life and my vocation. During this time I was supported by friends who appeared at just the right time, and by the Knights of Columbus and my Church community. As the fog lifted and things improved the thought of entering the priesthood returned, especially when various people on separate occasions suggested that I would make a good priest. It was time for me to apply to St. Peter's to discern f I truly am called.
My advice for any who are discerning the priesthood or the religious life would be to speak to your parish priest and the vocations director for the diocese. They have been through the discernment process, like yourself, and understand what you are feeling. Stay positive and maintain your relationship with God through prayer, reconciliation and the Eucharist. You will be challenged, but Christ will be guiding you as put trust in Him and take the next step.
Back to topAndrew Roelands
Sacred Heart Parish, Parkhill
Arts II was born on December 30th, 1997 and was raised in Parkhill, Ontario on a pig farm with my eight other siblings (I am number four). Growing up my parents, Rob and Jacinta taught me how to pray, to live my faith actively and to work hard. They encouraged me to consider the priesthood and to be open to God’s Will in my life. My parents started me on the right path to being open to the priesthood or whatever God’s call would be for me. My parents, siblings and grandparents have always been my first and greatest supports in regard to our Catholic Faith, to work on the farm and school, in building virtues and character, and in my discernment.
At the time of my First Holy Communion, my Godparents gave me a biography of St. John Bosco as a First Holy Communion present. I wasn’t quiet old enough to it read yet, but that was fine because I read it about four years later when I was in grade six. St. John Bosco’s love of God, strong devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary, and the special attention he showed to the boys he took under his care inspired me to become like him. I wanted to become a priest like him. This was the first time I considered the priesthood seriously. I put this thought away for about six years and kept it in the back of my mind, meanwhile I continued to be an altar boy at Holy Mass every Sunday and an active member of my parish. I got involved in the Sacred Heart Youth group in my parish and there made a great core group of friends to support me in high school and in discernment. I have spent the last year and a half as a leader in my parish youth group which has helped me discern that God may want me to serve His people as a priest. I also have been working on the farm with my family and I have loved every minute of it, but I was always finding that it wasn’t quiet for me. There was something deep down tugging at my heart.
At the start of grade twelve I started to feel more strongly again God’s call to be His priest. I only felt this call because of time spent before the Blessed Sacrament. I had a ‘spare’ period in my school day and I would often go to the school chapel and pray during this period. I prayed about my vocation. I wanted to get married and pursue a career, but I kept feeling God calling me to be a priest. I ran, but I couldn’t hide. I didn’t go to the chapel sometimes because Jesus, present there was calling me and I didn’t want to listen. I soon found out I couldn’t run or hide, God would persist in drawing me to Him. I gave in and have been discerning God’s Holy Will for my life ever since. I have never felt happier in my life then when I’ve renounced my will and followed God’s. I have now entered St. Peter’s Seminary, with Mary as my Teacher, Jesus as my Love, and the Holy Spirit as my Guide, to continue to grow in holiness and to follow God’s Will for my life. I hope to be ordained a priest someday. God’s Will be done!
Phil Guimaraes
Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Delhi
Theology II started on the path to the seminary early in my life. At the age of 11, I entered the Pre-Seminary of Buarcos, Portugal and was transferred to the main Seminary at Figueira da Foz the following year. It was my intention then to become a priest, however, life changes. Our whole family emigrated to Canada that same year. In Canada, I pursued a degree in French and Spanish literature at Laurentian University, where I met and married my wife – Sigi. It was my intention upon graduation to become a teacher. That too did not work out as my brothers asked me to join them in their swimming pool installation business to start a service division. In 1982, we bought the service company from them and went on our own to establish a very successful business.
My path back to the Church and to the Seminary, started about 21 years ago when I was asked by my sister-in-law to be the baptismal godfather to her son. In conscience, I could not do this and not be a good Christian example to him. Immediately I started practicing our faith and started reading the bible, the catechism and the lives of the saints. This slowly brought me ever closer to God. I attended and led the “Arise” program, where we started a St. Vincent de Paul Society in our parish. I was also a group leader of “Why Catholic” in our Parish for the last 2 years, as well as a Knights of Columbus member for 36 years.
In 2014 my marriage of 38 years ended when my wife – Sigi, sadly passed away from brain cancer. Her strength, faith and joy were astounding during this time. It helped me greatly. Shortly after, I sold my company to my Service Manager and retired. Throughout my life the idea of becoming a priest never went away. It was at this time that the Good Lord started calling me to Him in earnest. First, I discerned a call to the Permanent Diaconate and completed my first year this spring. However, Our Lord was not yet done with me, and in November 2015, I decided to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a priest and applied to St. Peter’s Seminary, where I was filled with joy to be accepted. God willing, and with a lot of help and prayers, I look forward to being ordained and doing His will.
Tony Joseph (T.J.) Vandermeer
Holy Trinity Parish, Woodstock
Arts IWhen I was eight years old I had my First Communion. After the mass the priest at my parish, Fr Andrew Kowalczyk passed the microphone around and asked all of us kids what we wanted to be when we grow up. I said that I wanted to be a priest, so I guess I felt the call from God when I was fairly young. That call faded and appeared many times throughout my life growing up. When I was seventeen, I went to a Come and See weekend at St. Peter’s Seminary. When I was there I felt that this may be something God is calling me to, but I heard God say to me that it is not yet time. I felt really at peace with that, and I know that God had my best interests in mind. So I found a job in construction that I really liked, and I worked there for almost two years. Then I started making plans to continue in that field. Those were my plans though not God’s plans.
When I was eighteen, so about a year and a half from the first Come and See weekend. Fr. Patrick Beneteau came to a youth event at my home parish, there he did a short talk, and Holy Hour. It was at this Holy Hour that I really heard God’s voice. He was telling me that I should really start thinking about the priesthood again. I had not given it a fair chance in a while. So off I went to the next Come and See weekend at St. Peter’s Seminary. It was there that I heard God’s voice again, telling me I should apply to go to the seminary this fall. I immediately started listing off excuses, but God told me just to trust him. That is what I did. I applied and did my best, to get in. Then I left the rest up to Him.
So now I am here, at St. Peter’s Seminary. I am still discerning my vocation, however, I am trusting in God like he asked me to. I know that with prayer and discernment God will show me my vocation, I just need to be patient. Right now all I have to do is be the best version of myself. The rest will come with time.
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