Whatsapp

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 45 men enrolled at three seminaries to study for the priesthood this fall – 24 men at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, 16 at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, and four at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, with one taking a pastoral year.

Joseph Yellico, a parishioner of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, is among those studying at Mount St. Mary's. The Catholic News Herald recently asked Yellico to talk about his discernment process as a seminarian, to help people of the diocese get to know him:

CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?

Yellico: My call to the vocation of the priesthood began around the age of 11. My family and I lived on Long Island at the time and often volunteered at parishes or with religious orders like the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The idea of being a priest was very vague at this age; I enjoyed the concept of helping others through this vocation, but this wasn’t the first thing on my list. First and foremost, I wanted to be a doctor and be of service through study of medical science, particularly the field of neurology. Being a healer for others, while growing in knowledge and wonder of a field I still am passionate about, was attractive to me. It was only towards the end of my undergraduate that the priesthood resurfaced. I was working at a care facility for the mentally/physically disabled. One individual I worked with could not speak coherently but loved to listen to music.

While on patient transport, I turned the radio on to her favorite channel and the song “Better Boat” by Kenny Chesney was on. The song talked about trust in God’s plan and letting oneself be guided by Him. This spoke directly to the inner conflict I had between the call to medicine and the call to the priesthood. As if this wasn’t enough, the girl in the back seat looked at me through the rear-view mirror with a smile and said, “It’s going to be OK, Joe. Don’t worry!” This moment among many distinct moments directed me onto this current path to becoming not a healer of the body but, God willing, a healer of souls.

CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?

Yellico: I mentioned the idea of the priesthood to my parents and close friends first. Once I became more comfortable with the idea of entering into the seminary, I called my spiritual director/pastor and asked him for some further advice.

CNH: What type of feedback or advice did you get from them?

Yellico: My family and friends have been nothing but supportive of me. In many and varied ways, they all essentially told me that whatever God willed was the right path. This path would be clear whether or not one had peace in it. So far this advice has been correct!

CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?

Yellico: Originally, I did not consider diocesan but religious priesthood. I discerned with the Benedictines while I studied at Belmont Abbey College. However, I realized over time that the ideal position for me was something that involved some form of healing, particularly something which related to my love of medicine. As a doctor treats his patients daily, so a parish priest administers to his parish family. I met with my spiritual director and was advised to visit the seminary, spend time in Adoration and go to Mass more often.

CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Vocations Office at the diocese?

Yellico: Once I made the decision to enter the seminary, I met with my pastor, who then notified the diocese’s vocations director.

CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?
Yellico: I entered the seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte in August 2019.

CNH: What seminary have you been assigned to?

Yellico: My first two years of seminary were in-state at St. Joseph College Seminary. For major theology, I am now studying at Mount St. Mary's in Ohio..

CNH: Tell us about the types of things you have been doing since you discerned you have a vocation to the priesthood and throughout your time in the seminary.
Yellico: With time in formation and the discipline of daily life in the seminary, I have been primarily spending my time in prayer. Apart from the Liturgy of the Hours, the practice of Lectio Divina and the rosary have become staples in my prayer life. With regards to spiritual books, I have been very interested in Carmelite works such as St. Teresa of Avila’s “Way of Perfection.” These books have been instructing me in the degrees of spiritual life, how to pray more effectively and, above all, how to deepen my relationship with Christ though work and sacrifice.

CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?

Yellico: Pray, hope and do not worry. Live in the present moment. Oftentimes the idea of a vocation pushes our sights way into the future. While looking ahead is certainly a good thing, don’t dwell on it because it doesn’t yet exist. Be faithful in your current calling – whether as a student, employee or whatever else. Let God handle the details of your vocation. He will make it clear to you when it is time to make a change. Spend time in prayer, especially through a weekly or even daily Holy Hour. If being God’s priest is something you think you are called to, then spend more time with the One who is calling you! Another thing is, don’t give way to social pressure. Without a doubt, you will get opinions about what you should be doing. Realize that these thoughts, even though they are well-intentioned, are just opinions. Your vocation is your own – at the end of the day, it is you who must make the decision and it should be principally informed by God, who calls you to it.

The easiest way to sum this all up is in the words of Our Lady at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.”

CNH: Looking back on your discernment period so far, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation?

Yellico: My family has a huge devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, which is expressed through daily rosaries. This devotion is something I have implemented in my discernment as well. Apart from daily Mass and Adoration, the rosary has been the biggest help. Recourse to Our Lady is absolutely essential for discernment regardless of the calling. With this calling in particular, a seminarian/priest is called to be like St. John at the foot of the Cross. Who better to seek for guidance than the Mother of God there beside you – the same woman God gave us to call Mother? I cannot stress this enough: a man seeking his vocation will not find it without first running to his Heavenly Mother.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Your DSA contributions at work

Seminarian education is funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.