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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Name: Father LeRoy L. Seuntjens

Birth Date: Dec. 25, 1934

Hometown: Danbury

Education: St. Mary’s Grade School, Danbury Catholic High School (1953), Loras College (1957), North American College and Gregorian University (Rome – 1957-61)

Ordained: Dec. 18, 1960

Current Assignment: Retired from St. Mary’s, Hawarden, in 2008; presently serves Trinity Heights as spiritual director

Hobbies/interests: Gardening, golfing and reading

Call to priesthood: One of my teachers, a nun, spoke to me and asked me to consider the priesthood. I was complimented because priests were held in high esteem by both of my parents, who were always active in the parish. We also had a special prayer for vocations, which we recited each day in grade school and this became important to me after the visit with the sister. However, through high school the idea of priesthood was put “on the back burner” and I did not want to think about it because I did not want to give up the fun I had playing sports, dating and all the things that are important to teens for today.
However, upon graduation from high school, the idea of being a priest would not leave me and I then spoke to my pastor about it. I really did not feel that he helped me discern the decision because all he said is that if it’s a persistent thought, maybe you should give it a try. I entered the pre-seminary program at Loras College and it was there with the guidance of a faculty advisor and spiritual director that I came to a final decision. It was a long process over several years and was not an easy decision for me.

Anyone or anything provide me with inspiration: Besides the grade school sister mentioned above, Father Carl Hansen, who was assistant and teaching in the Catholic high school was a good role model and respected by all. Then there were the priests on the faculty at Loras College who guided me most. But along the way there was always my family who admired and respected priests and gave me a sense of support and prayer always. I knew I could count on them.

Enjoy most: The celebration of Mass each day is always something new and fresh because it is my privilege to bring all, the people and events of each day, to the Lord. Next is the celebration of the sacraments and being a part of people’s lives at the peak and darkest moments of their lives. Another enjoyable and even exciting pastoral activity is working with enquirers to the faith through the RCIA process. It is exciting to see people come to faith, grow and become intimate followers of Jesus.
Now that I am retired, I find newness each day and excitement in other areas of the faith. As spiritual director I meet people each week who are drawn to the peace and prayerful atmosphere of this wonderful shrine and seeking answers and to grow in ways that are not so readily available in every parish. Promoting the Divine Mercy Devotion, which was revealed by the Lord to St. Faustina, has been a very exciting adventure and I now have time and the opportunity to devote as much time and energy to this as I wish. There is no place for a priest to be a couch potato. God is very active in the world today and he is always new and exciting.

Devotions: The praying of the Divine Office and rosary has been a daily part of my life. But recently the Divine Mercy Devotions (daily chaplet, novena at Easter, hour of great mercy, etc.), as well as the promotion of this new devotion, a “devotion for our time,” as Pope John Paul II called it, have sort of re-energized me and finds me going out and speaking on Divine Mercy in parishes and schools.

A worthy vocation: It is not only worthy in the sense that one feels he can always do something to make this a better world. God is new each day and has exciting things to accomplish though each one of us. And he needs each of us as members of his Mystical Body to continue building the Kingdom and redeeming the world. It never stops.

To one considering the priesthood: Go for it! There is plenty of help out there and people to help discern if the priesthood is God’s plan for you. Pray for guidance, visit with a priest whom you feel comfortable and our vocation director in the diocese, and expect God to answer. He will in his own time.