Fr. Joseph FontiWhen I was in the seventh grade I told my parish priest (Msgr. Gerry Langelier), “I want to be like you.†Like many of the boys at IHM I admired him - he was a positive, prayerful and joyful priest who generously served the families of our neighborhood. Being one of his “altar boys†(he was Moderator) I had the privilege of seeing him “up close.†His reverence and love for the Eucharist as well as his attentiveness to the people of the parish made a great impression on me so much so that I heard in and through his priesthood the voice of Jesus say to me: “Joseph, Come and Follow me.â€
Taking my early interest in the priesthood seriously he told me about Cathedral Prep Seminary (then in Brooklyn) – eager to visit he brought me to an Open House a few weeks later – I enrolled the following year.
While I would do it all over again, entering a formation program at a young age was no easier path to the altar…I still had to grow and develop. Facing the challenges and difficulties of adolescence is never easy – handling them as a seminarian brought me added pressure. Cathedral taught me the importance and power of prayer. I also learned during my time of youthful formation how to openly and honestly share my feelings and experiences in life with a Spiritual Director. My happiness and success in the seminary and in the priesthood has been because of prayer and spiritual direction.
I owe a great deal of debt to those who encouraged my vocation at a young age: my parents (especially the faith witness of my mother) and siblings; my friends who never made me feel awkward about wanting to be a priest and my parish who from day one spiritually adopted me. It has been said, “It takes a village.†I am a firm believer that for men to be formed as healthy, happy and holy priests, “It takes a parish.â€
Living the priesthood these past sixteen years has been like having “box seats†in the stadium of life. As each day brings us a new challenge, opportunity and experience with life the priest is there “front and center†to help us, guide us and remind us that “with God all things are possible.â€
Fr. Joseph Fonti ’92 is the director of the Sts. Peter and Paul Spirituality Center and the Director of the Office of Ministry and Life of Priests.http://www.brooklynpriests.org/priests/fonti.htmlLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=58875.0