Our Seminarians

Matthew J. Zinser

Home Parish: St. Matthias, Ridgewood
Pastoral Year Parish:
Seminary: Cathedral Seminary Residence, Douglaston

Have you ever though about the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, or at least the possibility of being a priest? Have COURAGE and pray for the STRENGTH to do the will of God in your life. There is a reason why God is calling you, you may not know why; but are you willing to YES to the Lord, are you willing to be a priest? Prayer was by far the most important thing that helped me to hear God's call.

I have always though of being a priest one day. Priests have always been an important part of my life; I remember the examples of the various priests that served in my parish; one of them is Monsignor Joseph Konrad, the former pastor of Saint Matthias Parish. Msgr. Konrad would come over to my grandmother's house for dinner; especially at Thanksgiving. He was a man of faith, a man who loved to serve, and a man who help my family. His example of priesthood inspired me, and most importantly, he encouraged me to go to Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst.

I began priestly formation in September of 2003, by entering the high school level seminary of the diocese, namely Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. I am currently in the college level formation program at Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, while I pursue my Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from St. John's University.

No one but God knows what is best for you; open yourself to the invitation of God. You can pray all you want, but if you are not open to a vocation to priesthood as a possibility, you will never know for sure. Fr. John Cush was an example of priesthood for me while I was attending Cathedral Preparatory Seminary; he encouraged me to be open to what God was asking me to do. I would simply say: keep thinking about God’s calling, pray about it, for that feeling does not just come and go.

If you say “yes” to God, you will please God be a priest in the great Diocese of Brooklyn. I want to be a priest for the Church in Brooklyn and Queens, because I feel that it what God wants me to do. I have lived in Queens my entire life, and look forward to one day ministering to the great people in this diocese. The Diocese of Brooklyn is so unique because it is the smallest diocese in the United States, but is one of the largest with regards in the number of Catholics. Brooklyn and Queens is so unbelievably diverse and you get to experience so many different cultures when you go to the different parishes in the diocese.

Like other college students, we take classes (mostly at St. John's University); have homework, study, etc. Three times a week we have a conference on a different aspect of seminary life, or on our spirituality. We meet with a spiritual director twice a month; where we spend time praying and continuing to discern God’s call. Like other people, we do have lives. I usually spend my Fridays and Saturdays out with my friends and visiting my family. I love going to Yankee games and having fun.