Our Seminarians

Peter Penton

Home Parish: St. Gregory the Great, Bellerose
Pastoral Year Parish: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jamaica
Seminary: Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington

I believe you cannot discern God’s call without having prayer in your life, a love for the Eucharist, attendance at Mass and reception of the sacraments. So if you are thinking about a vocation to priesthood, “Go for it! Do not be afraid. What a great gift and blessing it is to serve God as His priest.”

With a Masters degree in Education, I started my career as a bilingual teacher in the public school system. After three years of teaching, I decided to leave the system and travel around the world. In addition, I was a flight attendant from 1985-1992. This experience gave me roots in the union system and I became an advocate for unions in the workplace and justice for workers’ rights. I had returned to teaching (English) in the NYC public schools prior to entering the seminary in 2009.

The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens is an open door to diversity. It has so many opportunities for ministry with a variety of people from different cultures and backgrounds. The bishops and priests in this diocese are very supportive and have shown me their humanness in serving the Lord and His people.

My decision to enter the seminary stemmed from having attended a number of discernment opportunities: Project Andrew, Bishop DiMarzio's Vocation Retreat, monthly days of prayer days, and having spent a year living in the Pope John Paul House of Discernment. It was helpful to hear from and interact with others who were discerning the priesthood. Another influence was my spiritual director, Fr. Bryan Patterson, who guided me and gave me inspiration. The value of spiritual direction helped me tremendously in being able to say “yes” to the Lord. My pastor from St. Gregory the Great, Fr. Joseph Cunnigham, also had a big influence on me as I observed his self-giving nature to his people and the parish.

Life as a seminarian is challenging with all the studies you need to prepare for to do your best. I enjoy learning and how to incorporate all that I have learned into my daily life and ministry to the church. But life is normal as you build community with your peers and others and learn to foster support for and with each other. We have daily prayers, Mass and Eucharistic adoration. The primary life of the seminarian is this: to have one’s relationship grow with Christ in one’s discernment toward the priesthood.

While discerning one’s possible vocation to priesthood, it is important to maintain a healthy prayer life, as well as be able to discuss your discernment with others. Speak to a priest with whom you trust and have a good relationship. Attend vocation events and meet other who are in the same "boat”. Try to get involved in parish ministry. Have a devotion to the Blessed Mother. Allow yourself to experience the grace that God is giving you. Live a healthy and normal life and live life to the fullest. Follow Bishop DiMarzio’s motto and “Put out into the deep”. Come and see and remember you are not alone. Do not be discouraged but keep your heart fixed on what God is calling you to be.