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Stephen Talbutt as he begins to respond to Jesus' call
to be a fisher of men not just a fisher of fish! |
As we come to the end of the nine weeks novena of prayer for vocations we hear this week from a parishioner who tells his story of how he heard and is now responding to God's call to priesthood.
My name is Stephen and for the past 25 years I have been working in the computer sector, next month I start priestly formation as St Mary's College, Oscott ! So what would make an established computer administrator leave the security of a good job, career, house, home and happy life to start training to become a Roman Catholic priest?
Well therein lies my story ...
I come from a very devout catholic family. My grandparents and mother were a big influence in the faith. I attended St Peter’s Cathedral Primary School and then went to Our Lady’s High school and onto college.
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| Stephen and his mother Yvonne |
After finishing college and starting work I gradually abandoned the church, I could no longer see the point in going to mass or attending the services which had been so much a part of my early life. In a way my faith no longer felt alive to me. At this time I led a pretty normal kind of life enjoying socialising with friends, listening to music and going to festivals, playing guitar in a few bands, reading, watching films doing sports. Looking back I can see that I never gave Jesus or my faith much thought, although I believe He was always there to be seen in my mum and grandparents’ witness to their Faith.
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Social Centre - refreshments during
visit of St Therese's relics |
Cathedral Social Centre. I agreed to help and spent the first evening in the Social Centre feeling a bit like a fish out of water helping out where I could but generally not feeling of much use at all. At mum’s suggestion and because I was curious to see what all the fuss was about I went over to the Cathedral and sat as the back of the church whilst masses of pilgrims filed up and down the aisles venerating the relics. I was struck with a sense of inner peace such that I hadn’t felt since my school days. After spending a while simply sitting in the church I returned to helping at the Social Centre. The next evening, I attempted to go to the Mass; however, the church was so full I couldn’t get in. Later when the crowds had disappeared I returned to the quiet church, I was struck by that simple awe and palpable sense of the divine which was quite overwhelming and certainly not something I was expecting. I just sat in the church relishing something which seemed I had lost for such a long time. I missed the departure of the relics of St Therese the following day due to work, although I’m sure she has never really left me.
Following this experience I felt I needed to be at church and started to attend daily mass. Although I hadn’t said them in a number of years, I found I enjoyed saying prayers which were imprinted on my memory; they began to come alive and mean something, the words of the Hail Holy Queen especially stood out for me. The joy of this rediscovery was immense and that sense of inner peace and stillness when kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament was (and still is) exquisite.
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| Belmont Abbey |
The next episode in my story was during a weekend to Belmont Abbey, where I had taken my mum. We stayed at the lodge but joined in with the community for the daily divine office, during each of these experiences God opened up my heart a little further and it was at mass on the Sunday that I walked up the aisle with the rest of the congregation who were receiving Holy Communion, however, for me I had my arms crossed over my chest to simply receive a blessing. After this mass I knew that I wanted to receive Christ again in Holy Communion and after tentatively receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Holy week I received the Lord in Holy Communion for the first time in fifteen years.
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Lancaster Cathedral 2013:
Exposition during 40 hours |
For the next year daily mass became an integral part of the day, as did attending Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary and Vespers on Sundays. At this time I felt a new sense of spirituality, joy, awe, love and the presence of God who was so very real and alive. The thought of religious life occurred to me around this time, I began mulling it over and praying about it. I firstly approached the Capuchin Franciscans, who at that time, had a house in Preston. Under the guidance of Brother Paul I attended a few discernment weekends joining other men who like me were trying to discern God’s will for their lives.
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Attending Invocation 2013 with other familiar faces
Fr Andrew Allman and Sr Zela Proctor |
After being asked by Father Stephen to become a Eucharistic Minister I discussed my growing desire with him to put my name forward for the priesthood. He put me in touch with Fr Andrew the Lancaster Vocations Director. During the last couple of years, I have been meeting regularly with Fr Andrew to discern whether I have a vocation to the priesthood. And so last November I submitted a formal application and on 2nd May I was accepted by Bishop Michael Campbell to start formation this year at Oscott.
It’s going to be quite a change! But as our Lord Jesus says “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid, trust in God still and trust in me” and with this in mind I am setting my feet resolutely on the path and look forward to seeing where our Loving Lord Jesus will lead.
Please keep me and all those who are discerning their vocation in your prayers.
If you are interested in finding out about the priesthood or religious life don’t put it off! have a word now with your parish priest who I am sure will be very helpful or contact Father Andrew Allman the Diocese Vocation director or have a look at the vocations website
