December 16, 2011

Seminarian profile

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas
College Freshman
Bishop Bruté College Seminary at Marian University
E-mail: athomasamt@gmail.com
Birthday: May 31, 1993
Home Parish: St. Vincent de Paul Church, Vincennes
Parents: Mike Thomas, Vincennes; Jennifer Myers, Fishers, Ind.
Brothers and sisters: Ben Myers, Carl Myers, Amanda Faulkner, Chris Thomas, Sydney Myers, Caleb Myers, Megan Sturgeon

Education and Formation

When and where did you begin formal study to the priesthood? I began at Flaget as a kindergartner, then in second grade moved to South Knox Elementary starting my third grade year. I continued to South Knox Middle and high school where I graduated in 2011. [I began] my first year at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary.

What other formation programs or processes have you completed? I have not started any formation programs.

What’s next? What education or formation do you expect to achieve before ordination? I plan to continue discerning God’s call in my life and growing in the knowledge of the Catholic faith.

Your Vocation

Who — or what — affirms you as a seminarian? I think the biggest affirmation of joining the seminary was the joy of being in community with other Catholics.

What area of ordained ministry is most attractive? The area of ordained ministry that I find most attractive is being with people at every stage of their lives, marriage, Baptism, Confirmation, et cetera.

Your Future

Looking ahead to life as a priest in the Diocese of Evansville, God willing, what are your thoughts on the following areas:

The importance of preaching. Preaching is what inspires people to draw close with their faith, so, yeah, it is important.

Ministry in a cluster parish. What have you heard? What do you expect? Well, I would like to see a priest at every parish, but that right now isn’t happening. I come from a cluster parish and I think that a good priest can hold it together very well. I expect a lot more cluster parishes if we don’t see vocations go up.

The role of technology, if any, in assisting with your ministry. In the age of mass media it is good for a parish to join in to more easily spread their message.

The role of the priest in supporting vocations. Priests are the models that vocations can turn to, so [supporting vocations should be priests’ top priority].