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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Name: Father Richard Ball

Birth date: April 26, 1951

Hometown: Duncombe, Iowa

Education: High school graduate of St. Edmond Catholic School, Fort Dodge; College graduate of Immaculate Conception Seminary, Conception, Mo.; and major seminary graduate of St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

Ordination date: May 28, 1977

Current assignment: Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Granville, and president of Spalding Catholic Schools, Alton, Granville and Hospers

Hobbies/interests: I enjoy the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and golf.

Describe your call to the priesthood. I had graduated from St. Edmond, planning on attending Iowa State, and while working at a sheet rock plant in Fort Dodge, one of my co-workers asked me about my future plans. He had just graduated from Conception College and while he was not continuing on, he suggested that I should think about being a priest. I talked over the possibility of priesthood with my pastor, Father Louis Kollasch, and from then on my vocation to priesthood continued to grow.

Did anyone or anything provide you with inspiration to follow the call to priesthood? Jack Christensen, my co-worker after high school, whom I first listened to about being a priest, my parish pastors, especially Father Kollasch, and my parents and family.

Was it a difficult decision to make? The first year and a half of college was extremely difficult. I remember kneeling in prayer asking God to make the decision for me. I will never doubt the power of prayer for God did not hesitate to tell me that everything would be OK and to continue on the journey of priesthood.

What do you enjoy most about being a priest? I still get “butterflies” before I begin Mass. I love preaching, and I still feel humbled to hold up the bread and wine.

Are there any particular devotions or prayers that are dear to your heart? I grew up praying the rosary and it is still close to my heart.

Why do you find the priesthood a worthy vocation? I find its “worth” in sharing the presence of Christ that I continue to discover within me, and to help others to grow in their personal relationship with Christ and his church.

What would you say to a young man considering a vocation to the priesthood? Pray! God will answer. Speak to priests about their vocation. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the grace of God is there for you.