March 15, 2019

YEAR FOR VOCATIONS: Transitional Deacon Paul Norman

REGIONAL

During this Year for Vocations in the Springfield Diocese, Catholic Communications has invited seminarians and priests, both active and retired, to participate in a “mini-survey” by submitting answers to three questions. Their answers will be posted in The Catholic Mirror, on iobserve.org and the Catholic Communications Facebook page, and in the Parish Packet for use in parish bulletins.

Here are the responses from Transitional Deacon Paul Norman, a fourth-year theology student at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass.

1. What gives you the most joy as a seminarian?

What gives me the most joy as a transitional deacon and seminarian is my service to others. Vocation in and of itself, whether to married life, religious life, or priestly ministry, is less about me and more about others. At the heart of service is selflessness. When this is practiced, Christ can more freely conform our heart to his so that we can be an instrument of his love, joy, and peace for others.

2. What do you find most inspiring about the Catholic faith?

What I find most inspiring about the Catholic faith is that Catholicism puts our own frailty, brokenness, weakness, and suffering into perspective. Catholicism not only points us to the cross, but gives the cross meaning and depth, whereby we are conformed to our Lord and Savior. We follow in his footsteps not just in picking up our cross, but with firm hope in the resurrection. 

3. What gives you hope for the future of vocations in the Catholic Church?

We need more adoration. There is nothing that can foster vocations more deeply than the true presence of Christ’s, body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is this reality that inspired the great saints and martyrs to conform their lives in a radical way to our Lord and Savior. Likewise, Christ’s true presence in the Blessed Sacrament continues to build up and nurture vocations so that hearts can be set ablaze with the fire of God’s love.