DISCIPLE: Ruhland Hears the Call to Priesthood in Bismarck Diocese

St. Michael is blessed with a long history of vocations to priesthood and religious life, and that history has experienced a resurgence in the past two decades. Currently four young men from our parish are discerning diocesan priesthood—three in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and one in the Diocese of Bismarck. In the latest issue of DISCIPLE, we shared their stories in their own words. Here is the third.

THOMAS RUHLAND

Spirituality Year,
St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, Denver, CO
Diocese of Bismarck

I attended St. Michael Catholic School K-8 and participated in youth group throughout high school. Some of my favorite parts of youth group were being on the Core Team, attending EFC, and D-Group. I thought about the priesthood pretty much my whole life but really began seriously considering it later in college. When I started to take my faith more seriously is when I started to contemplate the call to go to seminary. 

I am relatively new to seminary life, but so far, I feel that my prayer life 
and relationship with God has changed drastically. For advice, I would say to keep a daily prayer life. It does not have to be anything crazy, but something that you do your best to complete every day. Also,  try to continuously improve in your faith and your life.