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Young men consider God’s plan for their lives at Project Andrew

By KARA KOCZUR, Globe staff reporter
(Email Kara)

As 26 young men settled into their seats for the final presentation at the Project Andrew Dinner, Feb. 18, at the Cathedral, Father Brad Pelzel reassured them that he wasn’t there to “strong-arm” them into the seminary.

Instead, he was there to challenge the men to ask themselves a question.

“I ask you to ask God, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’” said Father Pelzel, diocesan vocations director. “Have the courage to ask the question and then have the courage to follow through on it.”

When he was growing up, he was asked what he wanted to do, what he wanted to be when he grew up. But that was the wrong question, the priest said, because it’s a selfish question.

“The question that should have been asked is ‘What does God want for me as I grow up?’” he said. “That’s a very different question and it gives you a very different answer.”

As a young man, Father Pelzel had his share of problems. He had been a heavy drinker and nearly flunked out of college. Then, out of frustration, he asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do?”

The Lord said, “Go be a priest.”

It wasn’t the answer he wanted. He wanted a wife and a family, a career and a home, not the priesthood. It took Father Pelzel two years to act on the Lord’s promptings.

“One of the things I realized is that if we believe God loves us, if we really, truly believe that God loves us, then it would logically follow that what God wants us to do, whatever God calls us to do, will be the thing that brings us the most joy and satisfaction and happiness in our lives,” he said.

Father Pelzel has found that to be true in his own life. As a priest, it’s like he’s a part of everyone’s family, he said. He’s invited into the happiest and saddest times of their lives: baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, deaths, tragedies and divorces.

“I wish I could tell you I’ve been a priest for 20 years rather than seven,” Father Pelzel said. “If God is calling you, then you are very, very lucky.”

Father Pelzel encouraged the men to keep the possibility of a priestly vocation as an option in the years to come as they think more seriously about their future.

“My job is to help you guys figure out who God is calling you to be,” the vocations director said. “If enough guys let me help them figure out who God is calling them to be, whatever it is, in that process the Lord will bring to us the men who he calls to be priests for our diocese.”

Besides the nearly 30 men who attended, 13 priests, as well as Bishop R. Walker Nickless also attended the dinner, which began with evening prayer, followed by a traditional Mexican meal made by Cathedral parishioners. Father Pelzel had all the priests in attendance speak of one of their joys of the priesthood.
Bishop Nickless also thanked the men for their bravery in attending Project Andrew.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I know God is calling some of you to be priests. He wants some of you to give him everything you have to follow him and that’s what a priest does.”

Priests are called to give everything, he added, just as Christ was called to give everything to save the world. Though young men may be scared to not have a wife or family, Bishop Nickless urged those present not to be afraid. God will make up for it in ways they can’t imagine, he said.

“Priests represent Christ in the world,” the bishop said. “I need you in the Diocese of Sioux City, so really, really think and pray, ‘Could God be calling me?’ If he calls you to do something he always gives you the grace and the strength and the power and the talent to do what he wants.”

Bishop Nickless encouraged the young men to spend time with their parish priest and to volunteer by serving Mass.

“There’s nothing greater for a priest than to be able to say Mass, and to be around him when he says Mass and to help him is a wonderful way for you to begin to know a little bit more about what the life of a priest is.”

Clint Kessenich, 17, of St. Joseph’s Struble, gave up an evening of watching the Olympics or hanging out with friends to attend the dinner at the request of his pastor, Father Dan Greving. The message Kessenich got from the evening was a simple one.

“We need to think about what we will do with our lives,” he said.

Carlos Ochoa, a parishioner at the Cathedral also attended the evening at the request of both of his parish priests, Fathers William Vit and Brent Lingle, as well that of his youth minister and mother.

Ochoa said he was struck by the fact that although priests sacrifice many things, including a family, God still fulfills that empty space. Project Andrew is great way for young men to learn about where to get answers to their questions about the priesthood, he added.

“It helps them learn more about [priesthood] so that you become more comfortable with it,” Ochoa said.

The 17-year-old admits that he has thought about the possibility of a vocation.

“It’s something that’s in my mind,” he said.

Men interested in learning more about being a priest, or Project Andrew Dinners, can call Father Brad Pelzel at (712) 233-2522 or visit www. thinkingofpriesthood.org. Project Andrew Dinners are held at various locations throughout the diocese.