Planted , Rooted , Flourishing
Derik Peterman , 24 Archdiocese of Detroit
First-year Theology
MEET YOUR SEMINARIANS
Planted , Rooted , Flourishing
It certainly seems like it has been a long time since I first heard the call to the priesthood . In a moment of God pouring his grace upon me at age ten , I heard him say , “ Tell other people about me .” To me , it was clear that this was a call to the priesthood .
At that age , however , I did not understand what it meant to have a vocation to the priesthood . My faith was not particularly strong . I had no clue what a priest did outside of Sundays . In public school , I told my friends about this desire to be a priest , and they , too , did not understand .
Without any fertile soil to take root in , my calling withered . I set it aside and did not explore it again until high school .
In high school , I began to think more about my future . All of my classmates were preparing for college and careers , and yet this idea of the priesthood kept coming up in my mind . At times on retreat with my parish youth group , I felt the calling strongly . But I did not have the tools or courage to answer the call . So , I went along with the flow of the other kids and entered college . I went to Michigan State University , where I studied physics and competed on the track team .
The Catholic parish at MSU had an incredible priest who really helped me to grow in my vocation . Fr . Joseph Krupp started a priesthood discernment group where other men like me could talk about our journeys and learn from him . Most of the time we just listened to him tell stories about his ministry . So this is what a priest does the other days of the week !
I noticed myself falling in love with the idea of being a priest . At this time , God put an amazing young woman in my life . We dated — and again I began to run from my true vocation . But the seed God had planted in my heart had taken root and grown . I could not ignore it any longer .
Through much prayer and the guidance of a spiritual director , I came to have a greater confidence in my vocation and took the steps necessary to enter seminary . I entered Sacred Heart in the fall of 2013 after graduating from college , and I could not be happier . Sacred Heart has helped me to deepen my prayer life and grow in confidence of where God is calling me .
Life as a seminarian is busy , but God has been teaching me to be his instrument in the midst of it all . This is my greatest desire — to be an instrument of God ’ s persistent love .
18 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring 2016