Fr. Joseph Tobias, MSC – Vocation Journey
You often hear people talk about vocation as something you find. But, vocation comes to you. You must be in that state of mind or a ‘proper state of mind’ and God will find you.
As a child, I grew up in a religious home. We had religious pictures, we burned candles and mother always had prayer time for us. We also said the rosary every evening. When there was a storm, she would take out a candle and light it and make us gather around and talk. We could not sit around and watch TV or listen to the radio. But, that was kind of a good experience for me because eventually I thought more and more about how it would be really great to work for the church.
One time, while I was in the eighth grade, a visiting priest came to our class to talk vocation and serving God. He happened to be a Redemptorist from New York (member of a Congregation devoted to preaching). This made me think about it even more.
Our family was pleased to go to our parish regularly on weekends because we had only one priest, the Pastor, and he was a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. In addition, the nuns that taught at our school were Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and they were a positive influence on me. One of the sisters encouraged me to go talk to Father Schuch. I naively replied, “Can I do that?” to which she replied ‘Sure!” Fr. Schuch assured me I was on the right path but it would take additional steps to stay on that path. I definitely wondered about and was interested in becoming a priest and so I followed his guidance and advice to pray every day, think about parish devotions and being of service. I became less distracted from other things and spent more time thinking about my future in religious life and how much I would get out of that.
The first Christmas vacation after I entered the seminary in 1954 at the age of 14, I became very homesick after I returned to the seminary in Geneva, Illinois. Father Ellis suggested that I write a letter expressing how I was feeling but that I was not supposed to send it to anyone. So, I accepted that suggestion and, as Fr. Ellis suspected, in about 2-3 days, I did feel better and my home sickness went away.
As time passed, I often wondered if I was going to make it through. I watched as 2 or 3 classmates would leave seminary every year either on their own accord or because they were asked to leave if they neglected to follow the rules. But God continued to bless me and I was so grateful for that. I moved on to the Novitiate program in Youngstown, Ohio in 1959. That was a great experience. In 1960, I went to the major seminary in Shelby, Ohio. We had some very good professors and, some not so good. Having so many people around me who were determined to follow through on their vocation truly helped me a lot. Ordination came 7 years later in December of 1966 and it was a beautiful time!
After ordination, we were given assignments. I was assigned to Holy Family Parish in Nazareth, PA. Some of my classmates thought I was crazy because we knew that would require more daily work and hours. They asked why I would take a job at a parish?! I answered that working longer hours might be what priesthood is all about. As time went on, I realized how fortunate I was to never to have an unhappy day.
I am reminded of John, a former classmate and friend of mine. He really wanted to become a priest as well, but his mother forbade him. She wanted him to be ‘successful’ like a doctor or lawyer. You might remember a game show called the Dating Game. John was one of 3 men on the show, not once but twice. A woman on the other side of a wall/screen would ask the bachelors a variety of questions to assist in her selection of the man she would then choose to date. Unfortunately, he lost both times. I had hoped that John would stay with me so we could both take our vocation journey together, but obviously, he had other ideas.
The beauty of vocation is that it is truly a gift from God. When people ask how it came to be, I tell them God was the caller and the mover.
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I am thankful to have found your story. It has touched my heart. I wish I hope and need to pray for family’s to live in Love praying together again.
What a Wonderful world we would have if more family’s did turn off the outside noise and pray together. God Bless you and your family. Thank You again! -
Beautiful story I remember the the MSC‘s in Youngstown had that beautiful retreat house and of course their formation house there I remember so many of the priest and brothers. I always had a love for the MSC’s, but ended up as a diocesan priest.
I would always go there for a retreat even when I was in high school just love that beautiful facility
I love your story, Fr. Tobias.
Those were the days in Youngstown I remember, brother Michael, Brother Thomas Fr Jack Elias, Fr. Jerry Summers and so many other great priest and brothers. God bless you.
Fr. Nicholas Mancini Diocese of Youngstown. -
You probably don’t remember me. I was at the seminary in Geneva at the same time you were there. I left while I was in the novitiate in Youngstown Ohio. I’ve been a deacon for 35 years in the Diocese of St. Augustine Florida. Good to see your picture. I still remember you and all the others from the days in Geneva. God Bless.
