CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 41 men currently studying for the priesthood in four seminaries.
Twenty-seven men are at St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont. Ten men are studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. One man is finishing up his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and three men are at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Darren Balkey, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, is one of those studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and how his vocation has unfolded as he has progressed in his discernment, the Catholic News Herald recently asked Balkey to talk about his journey to the priesthood:
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Balkey: My first sense of a priestly calling was when I started serving Mass, about 9 years old. It seemed natural to want to be near the Word of God and the altar during Holy Mass. Throughout the years, that desire to be near God and bring Him to others stuck around.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Balkey: The priest who was my spiritual director at the time.
CNH: What type of feedback or advice did you get from them?
Balkey: He was very patient with me in college, but challenging in the right way. When I finally let God start opening the door to a vocation, I sent him an email about what was going on in my prayer life and thoughts. He replied, “Well, it’s about time!” I laughed when I read it, and knew that my email had made him laugh, too. That was exactly what I needed, because my own expectations were so much smaller than God’s plan.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Balkey: My vocation grew alive during my studies at Belmont Abbey College. A lot of hours in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel on campus and the Abbey basilica set a strong foundation. I also made retreats with Benedictine and Franciscan communities.
Right after I graduated, I started working in a behavioral health facility. There, I worked in a role of guardianship, and probably a lot like humble St. Joseph, I felt very inadequate! The youth I served were very much in need of a true, loving father, such as only the Eternal Father can be. That experience cast priesthood into an amazing light. My hunger for the sacraments, prayer and Scripture became voracious. I knew that anything less than service of God would leave me empty.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Vocations Office at the diocese?
Balkey: I initiated contact with Father Christopher Gober in the summer 2015, as I registered for Quo Vadis Days (the diocese’s summer discernment camp for young men). That October, he helped me into the seminarian application process, which I concluded in April 2016.
CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?
Balkey: I was accepted by the diocese May 10, 2016, and began formation and studies in August of that year.
CNH: Tell us about the types of things you have been doing since you began your discernment process throughout your time in seminary.
Balkey: I have been praying the Angelus on a daily basis for a while now. The Incarnation is key for a Catholic, and I love pausing for that reflection in my day. The Liturgy of the Hours, which distributes the psalms throughout the daily routine of the Church, is an important root. Holy Mass is the gathering point for the Universal Church as well as the seminary community, and that helps me remember to gather and present all of my intentions, anxieties and priorities to the Lord.
This past Nov. 23, I received my officer’s commission as an ensign in the Chaplain Candidate Program of the U.S. Navy Reserve. The People of God in Charlotte will certainly benefit from my priesthood, and I am also making myself available to serve as a naval chaplain to military personnel and their families. My first years of priestly service will be in the Diocese of Charlotte, after which I can receive an assignment to commands in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. I am excited to see how both the civilian parish and military setting are able to enrich the ways I serve the faithful. Bishop Jugis has been extremely kind and generous in allowing me to pursue this dimension of priestly ministry.
CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?
Balkey: Saints are like dominoes: they put others into motion. Turn to the saints and implore their help! The saints I have most grown to love worked hard to be (and find) tremendous friends. Start being that sort of guy by doing something small – the rosary, daily Mass, etc. – and sharing that with your friends. Whether you are called to priesthood, religious life or marriage, that will become clear through the saints’ intercession.
CNH: Looking back on your discernment period over the years, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation to the holy priesthood?
Balkey: First, time spent in silence. Second, true friendship with Jesus, the saints, many good priests and my brother seminarians, have been key to my discernment. One moment, though, sticks out. I interviewed Father Tom Kessler (pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville) for a class assignment. He mentioned something that really cut me to the heart. Men, he explained, often go to seminary trying to get built up big and smart and holy enough to be a priest. He rocked my world when he challenged me to ask God the opposite: “Am I little enough, like the Blessed Mother, to say ‘yes’ and let Him make me His priest?”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Is God calling you?
If you think God may be calling you to a vocation as a priest or religious, the Diocese of Charlotte has resources to help you!
Go online to www.charlottediocese.org/vocations to learn more and connect with someone who can answer your questions and provide discernment guidance.
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 41 men currently studying for the priesthood in four seminaries.
Twenty-seven men are at St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont. Ten men are studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. One man is finishing up his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and three men are at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Deacon Joseph Wasswa, originally from Uganda, is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. He is in the final phase of his studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum. His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for June 19 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and how his vocation has unfolded as he has progressed in his discernment, the Catholic News Herald recently asked Deacon Wasswa to talk about his journey to the priesthood:
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Deacon Wasswa: When I was in fourth grade, I had the opportunity to attend catechesis classes at my home parish in Matale, Uganda, that lasted for about two years. During this time, I was enrolled in the altar server group for the parish and I developed a deeper love for the Church, especially after learning about the many sacrifices the missionaries made in order to bring the Catholic faith to people in remote areas. While in sixth grade, I received the sacrament of confirmation, and it was at this very moment that I received the vocation to the priesthood. The atmosphere at the confirmation Mass was overwhelming: the church was packed, everyone in their Sunday best, the bishop and the priests adorned in glorious garments and filled with great joy, and then came that moment when the bishop confirmed us. It occurred to me at that moment that God was calling me.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Deacon Wasswa: I talked to my parents, my siblings and my friends, then I talked to the priest who was in charge of schools, youth and vocations at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Matale.
CNH: What type of feedback did you receive?
Deacon Wasswa: I received a very encouraging and supportive response. The priest in charge of schools and vocations at the parish contacted the seminary in order for us to get the interviews done and other examinations before entering.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Deacon Wasswa: After the admission interviews and examinations, I entered the minor seminary at Holy Family Bukalasa Minor Seminary in Masaka, Uganda. I learned a lot about discernment from my brother seminarians who were advanced in their seminary training, and from priests’ recreational gatherings with seminarians.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the vocations office at the diocese?
Deacon Wasswa: At the time I was continuing my discernment at Belmont Abbey when I learned about the Diocese of Charlotte. I contacted Father Christopher Gober, the diocesan director of vocations, and the whole process started from there.
CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?
Deacon Wasswa: I entered seminary for the diocese in 2016.
CNH: What have you have been doing throughout your time in seminary as part of discerning your vocation?
Deacon Wasswa: I pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily. I attend Mass every day. I pray the rosary every day. I spend a Holy Hour with the Lord every day. I listen to spiritual music regularly, and I read spiritual books – especially about the lives of the saints.
CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?
Deacon Wasswa: Fall in love with Jesus and His Church! Start with love, and pour out your heart to Jesus.
CNH: Looking back through your discernment, what has helped you the most to understand God’s will for you?
Deacon Wasswa: First, closeness to Jesus, and complete trust in His love and care for me. Second, the prayers and support from family and friends, and all the people of God across the Diocese of Charlotte. I am very grateful to them.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter.
Pictured: Deacon Joseph Wasswa distributes Holy Communion during his transitional diaconate ordination Mass July 17, 2020, at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. He is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood on June 19. (SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald)
Is God calling you?
If you think God may be calling you to a vocation as a priest or religious, the Diocese of Charlotte has resources to help you!
Go online to www.charlottediocese.org/vocations to learn more and connect with someone who can answer your questions and provide discernment guidance.