The New Wine Press vol 25 no 2 October 2016 | Page 14

Vocations

Forming a Missionary Life
by Matt Perez, Precious Blood Candidate
My name is Matt Perez. I am 46 years old, and I
am currently living in the Initial Formation House in
Chicago. I have been blessed to have this opportunity
to live and discern my calling to the priesthood with
the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. In August of
2015, I entered into the House of Discernment here
in Chicago. I began attending classes at St. Xavier
University in the fall of 2015. Being an older student, I
was challenged with having to learn what student life
is like all over again. While taking classes at St. Xavier
University I met many new friends and was able to
blend in with students more than half my age. I enjoy
learning about philosophy, the study of the search for
truth. What I have taken away from philosophy so far
is to ask open-ended questions, keep an open mind,
be a more critical thinker, and understand that there
is more to the text than what is presented there. This is
mostly taken from Plato’s writings concerning Socrates.
These practices are applied to my daily life in conversations with fellow students, friends, people I meet, and
housemates. The study of philosophy has also taught
me persistence, inquisitiveness, and to have better listening skills while in conversations with others.
I have also formed a great relationship with Greg
Evers, a fellow candidate in Initial Formation. Greg and
I have shared thoughts, ideas, and time in prayer. We
also get the chance to carpool to school and make time
to share conversations over dinner—which at times
can end up in philosophical conversations over classes
we share. It is always enlightening to be able to discern
with someone like Greg, who is near completion of his
degree in Philosophy. He is a great example of what it is
to live peacefully in communion with others.
The bond of charity in brotherhood is one of
the many things that intrigued me to explore the
Missionaries of the Precious Blood. At this time, I
experience the bond of charity through community
life. We in community life give of ourselves by cooking
for each other, supporting each other in homework,
and picking up the slack in household chores when the
other is occupied. This is becoming the family unity I
was looking for, which is centered in Christ. Through
the mission of St. Gaspar our founder, we can live in
brotherhood through the bond of charity by caring
for one another and helping support the needs of our
12 • The New Wine Press • October 2016

brothers. I find
this in my community life in the
formation house. I
am inspired by our
community living
when we all come
together for Mass
and meal times,
time set aside
for us to be able
to share in each
other’s lives.
This past June
Matt Perez
I officially entered into the Initial Formation Program. I am back
in Chicago in my second year at St. Xavier University.
I am very excited this year to have Michael Kirkland
living and discerning with us in Initial Formation. We
have also been blessed with Father Lac Pham, our new
Initial Formation Director. He has inspired me with
his devotion to Precious Blood community life and his
reverence to the Mass.