RECENTLY ORDAINED

Rev. Marc Howes

Ordained: May 28, 2004

Currently: Administrator at St. Francis of Assisi

I know of some who recognized their call to the priesthood at a very young age--this was not the case with me.

My first thoughts of the religious life were when I was a junior in high school at Chaparral. I was looking through all of the college literature I had received when I stumbled across a brochure for a college seminary in the Mid-West. It planted a seed as you might say. I thought about priesthood, but quickly discounted it.

At that time, a life of poverty did not fit into my plans of fast cars and a big home. I knew I enjoyed science and math so I pursued a degree in Environmental Engineering because I thought, out of all the engineering disciplines it had more of a social conscience. I knew at that point in my life that a rewarding career for me would be one that helped my fellow man.

While in college, I started to wonder if engineering was my true calling. I had discussions with my mom about my desire to explore other disciplines such as teaching and law. After three years of studying to be an engineer, she gave me the advice to complete my degree and try engineering. If engineering was not my true interest I could then investigate what was truly in my heart. At that point in time I did not fully understand what was missing from engineering. It was not until a year after I graduated from college that God made me aware that it wasn't the profession, but the vocation.

After I had graduated from college I embarked on my career search. Every day I would pray to Saint Joseph that I would find my true vocation and that God would make good use of my talents. After a couple of weeks of praying for Saint Joseph's intercession, I began to think of the priesthood again. I mentioned it to my mom once, but the idea frightened me, so I avoided much discussion. I came up with excuses for why I was not worthy of such a calling: I would be a bad priest, I could not live in poverty, and I was a sinner. Besides my excuses, I wondered if I could give enough of myself to be a good priest. I even tried to strike a deal with God: I asked for six more years, then I would respond.

I knew that I had many questions that needed to be answered before I could even consider responding to God's call. By this time I was a graduate student at UNLV studying structural engineering. I found myself questioning my direction. If God was truly asking me to think of being a servant to his people, why was I studying at UNLV? I began to realize that I was avoiding the subject. I was too scared to talk with anyone about the subject. To talk about it would set into motion the "Priest's Recruiting Service" -- a group of pushy men, like Army/Navy recruiters, bent on meeting quotas -- or so I thought. I was sure that I would be forced into a duffel bag and sent to the nearest seminary, if I opened my mouth.

During this period, I decided to get more involved in my parish, Holy Family. I was asked to be a lector and an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.

Last October while preparing for Mass, Father Bede asked if I had ever thought of the priesthood. I paused for a moment -- remembering the "Priest's Recruiting Service" and then responded, "Yes." At that point in time my questions had far outweighed my concerns. I now realized that considering the priesthood would not make me an outcast from society. In fact, it was something that had to be discussed openly with my friends and loved ones.

At this point in time, I earnestly believe priesthood is what God is asking of me. I do realize that I have a very long journey ahead of me at the seminary. The seminary will be a place where I can discern God's will. I ask that all of you be an active part of my journey and pray for my fledgling vocation. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Rev. Ron Zanoni

Ordained: May 21, 2005

Currently: Administrator at St. Peter the Apostle

                  Roman Catholic Church

e-mail: FrRon@stpahend.org  

My vocation story and my spiritual journey are very much intertwined. Soon after I received my first Holy Communion as a young boy, I felt drawn to the Eucharist. Every morning I would ride my bicycle to the convent near my school where I would attend daily Mass. I experienced a deep presence of Christ during those mornings in that little chapel. Also, it was during these times that I first began to see that maybe someday I should become a priest. In fact, I was very sure that was what I wanted to be.

As I grew older, however, I began to push this idea aside. My ideas about what would be a successful and fulfilling life began to change. I still wanted to do something in which I would be helping people, but felt that being a priest would be giving up too much.

In fact, the older I got, the less interested I became in my Catholic faith at all. I basically wanted to live life on my terms, and didn't need God tellling me what to do. I also began to believe that Christianity was "out of date" in a modern "advanced" society. And, like many people of my generation, I became drawn into false ideas of happiness like drugs and sex.

Somehow, though, I was able to get an engineering degree, and in 1982 landed my first job out of college at Nevada Power Company here in Las Vegas. A couple years later, I began to look again at the faith of my youth. Looking back now, I can see that it was God in His mercy drawing me back to Him. Finally, I recommitted my life to Christ (and continue to do so every day).

A few years later, the thoughts of becoming a priest began to surface again. And again, I tried to ignore them. Finally, at the urging of Father Mark Roberts, I began a discernment process with him to determine whether God might be calling me to be a priest. I began to understand that, in a sense God has "prewired" each of us for a particular vocation: to be married, a priest, a religious brother or sister, or single. We need simply to discover which one He is calling us to, and to say "yes" to Him! Then our life will be the most "complete" by following the vocation He has chosen for us.

And so, through this process of discernment, I came to believe that God may indeed be calling me to be a priest. When I came to this realization, I remember thinking of Mary's words to the angel Gabriel: How can this be? Still, I had certain fears which were totally unfounded: everyone--from family to co-workers--has been incredibly supportive.

God is calling others in the Las Vegas Valley to the priesthood. He is faithful in doing the calling; we need to "be not afraid," and say yes!