Stephen Schietinger
St. Thomas More, Austin, TX
Pre-Theology I
Holy Trinity Seminary, Dallas, TX
I was born in Austin, but I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Houston. I grew up going to St. Justin Martyr parish. I went to John Paul II Catholic School from first through the eighth grade. I then went to Strake Jesuit in the ninth grade. I decided to switch to Westside High School from tenth grade on, because it was closer to home. I am an only child, raised in a conscientiously Catholic family. I did not care much about my Faith, though, until I was forced to go on a Steubenville summer youth conference during high school. God revealed Himself to me in a special way, and I experienced for the first time the loving mercy of Jesus Christ. I committed myself to God and the Church from that point on. I decided to go to the Franciscan University of Steubenville to study religious education and theology, because I wanted to help people come to understand the truth and beauty of God. I am continually amazed by God’s generous love. In times when I have struggled to see my own worth or the goodness of life, God has reminded me that I am made in His image and that I am His own son in Jesus. The thought leaves me stupefied. I started to really consider the priesthood while I was at Franciscan, because I would go to daily Mass and see myself celebrating it, but I also wanted to get married, so I held off. I continued on to doctoral school for theology, because I developed a great love for theology. The desire to celebrate the Eucharist came back, though, and I realized that I could still achieve all of my professional and creative desires as a priest and have the added joy of celebrating the sacraments for God’s People. I withdrew from doctoral school and began applying for seminary right away. As a brand new seminarian I am exited and anxious to more deeply discern God’s call, and to grow as a man of God. A particular Scripture passage by which I try to live is Hebrews 12:4: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” This passage makes it clear to me that nothing is more important than doing God’s loving will. It also reminds me just how serious sin is. Jesus died for love of us. Can we not try to do the same for him?