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I grew up at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Shawnee, KS. I attended Kindergarten - 8th Grade there and then made my way to St. James Academy. When I look back, two moments stand out to me as most significant when I consider the years leading up to seminary, those moments when I first heard the Lord’s call to consider a priestly vocation. The first was when I was a sophomore at St. James. After attending a retreat, I simply recall being prompted by God to think about becoming a priest. This was quickly swallowed up with all sorts of other pursuits that, at the time, I saw as more important. The Lord is faithful and He is certainly persistent. Over the next few years, I would briefly receive such promptings in prayer and I was quick to dismiss them. Then, at the end of my sophomore year at KU, I recall sitting at the St. Lawrence Center near the Mary icon while Fr. Beseau was celebrating mass. It was during the Liturgy of the Eucharist when I felt a tremendous desire surge up in me and at the same time almost like an invisible rope was around me, pulling me towards the sanctuary. The desire was to be as near as the sanctuary as I could, to be present at the altar, and to pursue a priestly vocation. It was this moment that was most definitive for me, when I realized I needed to take further steps.
It was Fr. Beseau who has most influenced my vocation, primarily by his steady aid during those difficult times during my time at KU, when I felt like I had no direction and was drifting along, not really committed to one path or another. He took a number of us on retreats and hosted gatherings of the men at the rectory where we discussed life, friendship, vocation, God, and everything in between. Most impactful, however, was Fr. Beseau’s love for the priesthood and priestly identity that spoke to my listless and wandering spirit. It was seeing his witness to the beauty of the priestly life that I first came to the realization that life as a priest can be more fulfilling than most ever realize, and that to give up everything and follow Jesus is the greatest adventure imaginable. The invitation to a life of adventure in Christ lit a fire in me, and the Lord has not disappointed in His promise of adventure. I have traveled to places I would have never thought possible, I’ve lived in Spain and Mexico for intensive courses of study, and I’ve met people and developed friendships that are directly the result of Jesus inviting me to follow Him wherever He goes. Many young men have asked me about my time in seminary and pursuing a priestly vocation, saying yes to the call, overcoming fears, and all that goes into this life. When I offer encouragement to them, I find myself always coming back to this truth: This life is an incredible adventure, and Jesus is with you every step of the way. God cannot be outdone in generosity, and even saying yes to time in seminary, saying yes to giving priesthood a consideration, will result in God’s generosity overwhelming you.
As I approach my diaconal ordination this spring, I am most looking forward to the opportunity to share with others what I have been so generously given, and all the more to participate as an instrument of Christ by being a minister of the sacrament of Baptism. I am also very much looking forward to preaching at Mass; there have been a great number of occasions during my time in seminary when I have looked at the person next to me and said “We have to tell someone about this.” To have the chance to share the wealth of knowledge, but also the wealth of grace that Jesus has given me, will be a great gift.
My time in the seminary has been a long road, and I am especially indebted to a particular saint, my favorite, St. Jerome. St. Jerome has taught me a great deal, especially because we share the same temperament as well as love for Scripture and the Latin language! He also taught me to surrender everything over to Jesus, even the things in my life that I would rather not hand over! Seminary has not been an easy journey, principally because it is not supposed to be. It is about taking a man and turning him into a human instrument of Jesus Christ. At our chapel here at Kenrick-Glennon, many recognize the two Latin words on the baldachin: Conforma. Imitare. These words are easy enough to understand…conform and imitate! What most people don’t know is that they form the end and beginning of a sentence: Imitare quod tractabis, et vitam tuam mysterio dominicae crucis conforma. Translated: Imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross. These are the words that every priest will hear on his ordination day, spoken to him by the bishop when the priest receives the chalice and paten, bread and wine. This is what I hope most for my life: that what the priest does, will in fact, change the priest himself into a living, breathing, other Christ.
Let us keep Aaron and all our seminarians in our daily prayers!
