Samuel Giangreco
I consider myself extremely blessed to belong to a very loving family. I am the third eldest in a family of six children. I have two older brothers, a younger brother, and two beautiful younger sisters. I begin this brief article about my vocational discernment by mentioning my family because I think most would agree that a strong foundation, that is, a loving family, is needed for any person to become a well-rounded, value-oriented individual. I thank God for having been given that foundation.
My family is not perfect, if not far from perfect. We are a family that has gone through many hardships, but it has been the indissoluble bond of faith in the God of HOPE and MERCY that has kept us together and has helped us grow in peace and love.
I was born in Tampa, Florida (1986) where the first four children, all four boys, were born. After only a few years, my parents moved back up to Buffalo where they had my two sisters. It was in Williamsville, New York that I was given the gift of a Catholic education at Saint Gregory the Great Parish from grades K through 8. It was during those elementary years that my faith was formed and grew. My family's faith was set ablaze due to a miraculous event in the summer of 1993 at our home in Clarence that I can only compare to the "miracle of the sun" in Fatima, Portugal. Consequently, my mother helped organize a weekly rosary group with family, friends and food, and had several Masses celebrated in our home. It was during those years that I was enrolled into the Society of Our Lady of the Brown Scapular. Since then I have rarely taken off my scapular in honor of my devotion and thankfulness to God for our Blessed Mother.
My parents were divorced when I was in eighth grade, causing a major rift in the family. Much pain was suffered by all, but thankfully God "makes all things new."
I attended Clarence Senior High for all four years of high school. It was then that my Catholic faith took a "back seat." I cared more about my social life and having a good time than about love of God and neighbor. It was all about me. It was because of this that I caused much suffering for my mother.
Thankfully, after high school, I matured enough to recognize that I needed to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I dormed at the University at Buffalo my first semester. It was in my dorm room that I developed a prayer life. I remember getting on my knees most nights before sleeping asking the Blessed Mother for her protection. It was during those very brief moments of prayer that I felt a burning in my soul that made me want to give my whole life to God. It was in my freshman year at college that I seriously considered entering a seminary. After two short weeks of nerve-wracking discernment, I gave up and decided I wanted to "have fun," and thought to myself, "I don't need to be a priest. I can do something else." I then lived the stereotypical college life.
In my fourth and final year in college, I realized that I had to make a decision before graduation. My options were: pursue a teaching degree or enter the seminary. At the time, I felt very distant from God, yet I never forgot that feeling I received in my dorm while praying.
It was "crunch time." Understanding that God has a plan for everyone, I knew who to ask for guidance. I started receiving the Sacrament of Recnciliation on a weekly basis, attending daily Mass as often as possible, and committing one hour a week at Saint Gregory's Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. I was begging God to give me an answer as to what I should do with my life. I asked God to make His answer as obvious as a slap in the face.
God is good. After attempting to reprioritize my life (keyword: "attempting"), placing God first, everyone else second, and me last, I gained a better sense of reality. It was then in Eucharistic adoration that I experienced a singular graced moment and knew that God was asking me to enter the seminary.
At that time I was very uncomfortable speaking with priests, since I was never an altar server and uninvolved in parish life (I was and am on the introverted side). Therefore, I was terrified to call the Vocation Director of the Buffalo Diocese. But because of God's grace, I was able to make that phone call and am currently in year four out of seven at the seminary.
Seminary life is challenging, but unbelievably rewarding. It has also dramatically changed me in a very good way. I consider Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora invaluable to the Diocese and God's people. I cannot imagine being better formed and educated elsewhere.
Though the Program of Priestly Formation is a seven-year long process leading up to ordination, it is quite intensive. Seminary life is a life changing, perspective altering experience. Even if God calls me out of the seminary, though I do not anticipate that God will, I would consider myself extremely privileged to have experienced it. I hope this sharing of my discernment may help others realize their calling, whatever God has planned for them.