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Christopher Jeffery Bethge

Christopher Jeffery Bethge

Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Glendale
Seminary: Cathedral Seminary Residence, Douglaston


Pray! Nothing is possible without prayer.  You have to ask God what He wants from you and then act on it.  DO NOT BE AFRAID! Follow where the Lord wants you to go. Don't be afraid of this great calling, but embrace it.

 

Again I want to say in the words of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II: “Do Not be Afraid!” If the Lord wants you to be his Priest it is such a wonderful gift don't be ashamed, but know that God has called you for. A great priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn has said: "this Vocation does not take you out of the world; rather it calls you to bring Jesus into it."

 

I began my formation at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, which is the high school seminary for the Diocese of Brooklyn.  It was at Cathedral Prep, where I was given the opportunity to discern my vocation; at “the Prep” I was able to see what a Priest is supposed to be through the example of Msgr. Calise, Msgr. Cooney, and Fr. Cush. I was also blessed to have wonderful priests in my home parish of Sacred Heart in the Glendale section of Queens.

 

I began the college level formation program in the fall of 2007, when I entered Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston.  Life as a Seminarian is great. As a college seminarian classes may be challenging; but honestly, life for everyone is challenging.  I have the opportunity to grown closer to the Lord through prayer.  It is in prayer that one discerns a call to the priesthood.  After much time in prayer and speaking with the priests in your parish; I would advise a man to contact the Vocation Office and take it from there.

 

I want to be a Priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn because this is home. This great Diocese is where I grew up, where I was baptized, confirmed and educated in my Catholic faith. This Diocese is such a special place and one day I want to serve the people of this Diocese as a priest of Jesus Christ.