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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Name: Father Larry Burns

Birth date: Dec. 19, 1938

Hometown: Emmetsburg, Iowa

Education: St Mary’s Grade School and Emmetsburg Catholic High School; St John’s University, Collegeville, Minn. and Mt. St. Bernard’s Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

Ordination: May 30, 1964 at Cathedral of the Epiphany, Sioux City

Current assignment: Retired in July 2009 with residence at Marian Hall, Sioux City, IA.
Served as assistant pastor at St. Joseph, Sioux City and St. Patrick, Estherville; chaplain at St Joseph Mercy Hospital (later Marian Hospital and now Mercy); pastor at Sacred Heart, Templeton, Blessed Sacrament, Sioux City, St Lawrence, Carroll, Team Ministry in Webster County with residence at St Matthew, Clare and Corpus Christi, Fort Dodge and pastor of Sacred Heart, Early and St Joseph, Schaller.

Hobbies/Interest: Reading, genealogy and nature.

Describe your call to priesthood. I was attracted to priesthood because I like working with people. Priesthood seemed to me to afford the greatest opportunity to serve God’s people in a meaningful way. I discovered that I was often ministered to by the people far more than I ministered to them. I am grateful for the many people who allowed me the privilege of sharing in their lives.

Did anyone or anything provide you with inspiration to follow the call to priesthood? I was always attracted to priesthood because of the great priests and sisters that taught me as I was growing up. My pastor was very encouraging and supportive as was my family.

Was it a difficult decision to make? In one sense, all vocational choices can be difficult but if one trusts God’s hand is at work in our lives it is not so difficult. I trusted the ones who encouraged me to pursue priesthood and I trusted that discernment of my vocation was in the hands of the seminary faculty as much as it was in my own hands. I presumed God was calling me and I trusted that I would be shown if that was not the case.

What would you say to a young man considering a vocation to the priesthood? I would say to someone considering the priesthood to make sure that you pray to know God’s will. Sort of obvious but too often we can think it is just my choice. With prayer one enters or strengthens a relationship with God. Secondly, as I have already mentioned, it is his call to us and not something we just decide to do by ourselves. With any thoughts of priesthood it is important to talk to someone who can give you objective advice and maybe encouragement. All of us are only truly happy when we are doing what God calls us to do. .