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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Father Paul-Louis Arts

DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 5, 1938

HOMETOWN: St. Lawrence Parish, Carroll, Iowa

EDUCATION: Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa; B.A. 1960
Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.; M.S. 1964
Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.; M.A. 1970

ORDINATION: Cathedral of the Epiphany, May 30, 1964

PRESENT ASSIGNMENT: Retired (July 2008)

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Traveling, reading, gardening

CALL TO THE PREISTHOOD: I heard the call at a very early age. I knew that I should be a priest, but I was not sure that I wanted to be a priest. I went to a Catholic College (Loras) at the suggestion of my pastor, Father Arthur Poeckes, to test the vocation. I never looked back.

INSPIRATION: Through the prayers of my grandmothers and parents and the motivation of my pastor and associate pastors.

DIFFICULTY OF DECISION: Once I entered college and the seminary program I knew that the priesthood was the right course. It was not difficult. I have always been blessed to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT I ENJOY THE MOST IN MY PRIESTHOOD: I enjoy people, especially young people. I taught in high schools for the first 18 years of my priesthood and loved every minute of it. I enjoy a challenge and as a pastor accepted assignments that gave me a great many!

DEVOTIONS-PRAYERS: Devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Blessed Sacrament and praying the Divine Office has always been the mainstays of my inner strength.

A WORTHY VOCATION: The priesthood is a calling. It chooses the person and in answering that call a young man is assured that his life will be a very fulfilling one. If that man lives a prayerful life he will find that he will be blessed in all his endeavors.

WHAT WOULD I SAY: “Give it a try! Give it your all! Always seek guidance through prayer to the Blessed Virgin and the Blessed Sacrament. If you are ordained a priest or decide to be a layman you will always know that you made the right decision because you made it through the prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit.”