My All For Jesus

By THOMAS WASILEWSKI

When I was a young boy in Poland, my father would take me and my sisters to mass in an old beautiful stone church. I liked the church because there was a canon ball stuck in its side from a battle long ago. I also liked watching the priest in his vestments preside at the mass and secretly wished I could be like him. There were Polish traditions that made an impact on my faith: young girls strewing flowers before the Eucharistic procession, the priest in his cassock visiting our home for dinner. My grandmother made a prediction when I was born that I would become a priest, and my family never ceased to tease me about this for many years.

 

When I was 9 years old our family moved to the United States, to escape Communist oppression. We lived in the Upper Peninsula for a year then moved down to East Lansing. Life was hard for my parents and they had a difficult time finding work and adjusting to life in America. I too struggled to fit in with my Catholic grade school and parish. Unfortunately those hard years had a negative impact on my faith. I slowly drifted away from the religion I once loved and bought into the secular culture. However, I could never really shake the seeds of faith planted when I was so young. I knew God was real and I suspected he had a great plan for me. But it took time and healing before I would be ready to accept His plan.

 

After high school I attended Central Michigan University and then worked for a computer company. I remember mountain biking in the beautiful Mid-Hudson Valley of New York and wondering why I felt so unhappy inside. I went back to church, got involved with bible study, and a Catholic young adult group. I liked the parish in my small town and was inspired by the visiting priest from Nigeria. But I still felt like I was on the outside going through the motions. I knew I was missing the one thing that mattered and scared me the most: accepting Jesus into my life. I was afraid of believing in Him because I knew my life would change. But God never left me alone. I was led to a retreat with other young people where God worked a miracle in my heart. He crushed my opposition and showed me how much He loved me. I knew without a doubt that Jesus died on the cross expressly for me. As I drove away from the retreat I knew my life would never be the same.

 

I began to discern almost immediately the path that Jesus wanted me to follow. I found solace in silent adoration before the Eucharist at the 24 hour adoration chapel. I made friends with parishioners who mentored and encouraged my discernment. I talked with priests and tried to work out the deep questions of a life commitment to the priesthood. All through the process Jesus was leading me and healing me from the time I was away from the faith. I grew as a person and as a man and finally became ready to say “yes” to His plan for my life without any reservations. 

 

Soon afterward I moved to Michigan and then entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. I found myself living a whole new life, with constant challenges and growth. But God has always provided and encouraged me through any difficulties in seminary or ministry. Over and over I have been reassured in my original decision to pursue priesthood. I have become convinced that no matter what life throws at me today or in the future, with His grace, I will remain faithful to the end.