Andrew Ochs
Name: Mr. Andrew Ochs
Seminary: Conception Seminary College
Home Parish: St. Bridget, Pleasant Hill, MO
Birthday: 5/01
What in the world would compel an 18 year old guy, fresh out of high school, with so many opportunities ahead of him, decide to enter a Catholic seminary out in the middle of nowhere (aka Conception, Missouri)? That’s a question I struggled with throughout high school. The prospect of going to seminary, especially right out of high school, seemed absurd to me. But for some reason, I kept on thinking about it. God had planted a seed deep down in my soul, this desire to discern a call to the priesthood that just kept on growing, no matter how much I tried to stop it.
Our Lord used so many amazing people to plant the seed of my vocation: my parents, priests, teachers, friends. I remember being an altar server and seeing the love with which the priest celebrated the mass, the enthusiasm and joy behind his preaching, his reverence before the Blessed Sacrament. That had a huge impact on me. When I was in second grade, I was told to say this simple prayer every day: “Lord, tell me what you want me to do with my life, and I will do it.” Sure enough, he let me know.
So many times, we think about all that a priest gives up for the sake of his vocation. We can’t ignore this, of course, but there is beauty in the sacrifice. We need to remember, though, that the joy that comes from finally saying “Yes, Lord!” (or “fine, if you say so,” like it was at first in my case) cannot compare to any other satisfaction that the world may try to offer us. God knows what will make us truly, genuinely happy. By the grace of God, I’m a seminarian now, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to study at the seminary and further discern what Christ’s plan for me is.
rgins again. It is a continuum of wants and struggles and it is the penalty for our existence. And when desire for that which we want completely dies and ambition lies supine in steely hearts fettered by the "corruption of unrestrained gladness," that will be the day we cease to be.
