Our Seminarians

Lawrence David Ryan

Home Parish: St. Ephrem, Bay Ridge

Pastoral Year Parish: Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians, Woodside
Seminary: Holy Apostles, Connecticut

I encourage all those thinking of joining the priesthood (and especially those who might be a later vocation) to be open to God's call, and to explore the possibility of that call prayerfully and seriously. There is no downside to exploring that possibility, and I believe that many vocations are lost because those initial thoughts and feelings about the priesthood are never seriously explored.

I am, what some might call, a late vocation. I worked for the Federal government for more than 35 years and retired in 2006. I entered priestly formation in January of 2007. I (like all seminarians) entered the seminary because I believe that I am being called to be a priest. It is important to remember that it is God who calls; and that it is our job (with God's help) to discern if we are being called for the priesthood. The seminary is where the discernment process continues and the preparation process takes place.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I was educated in Catholic elementary and high schools in Brooklyn. I later had the opportunity to live and work in several other places. I enjoyed those experiences, but Brooklyn is home. I hope I can be most useful as a priest serving the people in a place I know well. What makes Brooklyn great is that so many people from so many different places live here. It will be a privilege to serve them as a priest.

Life in the seminary is very full with academic, spiritual, pastoral and human formation responsibilities. However, the teachers, staff and other seminarians are supportive and helpful. I am currently doing my theological studies at Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut.

Some might be asking; how did I know? Well, I prayed, I became more faithful and attentive to the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, and finally I spoke with priests about their vocations and ministry. I also attended discernment events, spoke with the vocation director, and prayed some more.