BEING A PRIEST: THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE
My name is Geoffrey Kerslake and I happy to be a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of Ottawa.
When I first went to the seminary in Toronto, I was really nervous because I had a mental picture of what a parish priest was like and I did not match that image! I didn’t feel ‘very holy’, I don’t play the guitar (or sing very well) and I wasn’t too sure what the mysteries of the rosary were, so, I wondered, how could I have a calling to the priesthood?
I remember thinking to myself that it was important to just ‘be me’ and that if God wanted me to be a priest, it would work out and it He didn’t want me to be a priest that would be okay too. I figured that, in either case, at least I would have an answer to that feeling that God might be asking me to be a priest and I really wanted an answer to that question.
I was surprised to discover how much fun it was to learn more about my faith at the seminary and I remember phoning my parents one evening and saying to them: “Guess what we believe? Isn’t that awesome?” My family and close friends saw how much I enjoyed my time in the seminary and they and the seminary were sure that I was on the right path.
So, five years later, I was ordained in June of 2003 and I spent my first 20 months as a priest at St. Patrick Parish in Fallowfield as the assistant pastor. I have many happy memories of my time there. About 4 years ago I was sent to St. Leonard Parish in Manotick to be the pastor and that was also a good experience with many things to smile about and fond memories to cherish.
All in all, the last 6 years have been the best ones of my life! My faith has matured and grown a lot, I have been challenged to grow in new directions, I have met some wonderful people, and been part of some of the most important moments of family life for many people.
I also have to say that I am never bored because each day brings something new and often unexpected. One day, for example, a person phoned and asked if she could bring her dog which was very sick over to the church for a special prayer; so we met outside in the Prayer Garden and we asked St. Francis for his prayerful intercession! When I woke up that morning I never would have imagined I would have that experience before lunch.
Sometimes my friends tell me that I should write a book about some of my experiences!
This fall, I will start a program at San Anselmo Pontifical University in Rome to earn a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy before I return to Ottawa.
Sometimes I am still a little surprised that God chose me to be a priest but I am very grateful to Him that He did. And after 6 years as a diocesan priest in Ottawa, I would joyfully do it all over again without a moment’s hesitation.
If you think that God might be calling you to priesthood, I encourage you to do something about that feeling – even if you think that you don't match the image you have in your head of what a priest should be.
Regardless of whether or not you are being called to the priesthood, you will be glad that you made the effort to discern your vocation. I know that I am glad I did. May God bless you and may Mary, Queen of the Clergy, lead you to her Son.
Fr. Geoffrey Kerslake