DISCIPLE: Providence Guides Thorp to Seminary

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 fourth and final story.

TREVOR THORP

Freshman, Saint John Vianney 
College Seminary, Saint Paul, MN
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

My family moved to St. Michael before I was born, so I have been at St. Michael for my entire life. My parents raised us five kids practicing the faith, and each of us joined the youth group in middle school and Core Team in high school.

I first felt the call to seminary the summer before 8th grade during a holy hour. Since then, I told anyone who asked that I planned to go to seminary and become a priest, and God helped me through high school with this in mind. In my senior year, I began to doubt a little whether I was actually called to seminary or to a different college, but by God’s providence, seminary became both the best college option and the only one I really wanted to pursue. I have experienced so much joy and peace in prayer and community that I know God wants me here right now.

If you are discerning your vocation, my advice to you is to be persistent in your prayer. Keep asking God what He wants you to do, and if you are really open to His plan you will not miss His answer. Jesus says, “he will… give him whatever he needs because of his persistence” (Luke 11:8). Persist in your prayer, and God will answer you when you need it.