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Testimonies So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. 2 Timothy 1:8-9
Joel Robert Heine	There were several times growing up when I thought about being a priest. I served as an altar boy at church from 5th grade all the way through my senior year in high school. It was in middle school when I really began to start experiencing serious thoughts that I might be called to the priesthood. I initially spoke with the parish priest who advised me that I should continue to pray and think about it but also to live the life of a normal child as well. I went on through high school and decided that I wanted to go to college and major in music. Music has always been one of my deepest passions along with the Church. Through my collegiate experience, I always found myself involved in the Church wherever I was. I found that at times it was the driving force for me. The thoughts about becoming a priest still returned a lot and I eventually began to discuss this with a catholic nun serving as pastoral associate for students who matter of factly told me that I need to be asking the right questions. It was all the encouragement that I needed along with the continued encouragement from home. I am blessed to have both parents who very much support my decision to become a priest. They have continued to support me even when times were not so good. The decision to enter the seminary was not as difficult as I thought it would be. It was not easy leaving a lot of stuff behind at first, but in many ways I was prepared for it as things sort of fell into place at the right time. I began my studies at Mundelein Seminary in 2005 and now I am heading into my third year there. I am proud to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Springfield. I continue to pray that more young men and women continue to answer the call to service as priests and religious.
Reverend Mr. Kevin Muniz	I have learned in my life that God’s ways are always better than my ways and His plans are always better than my plans. I just hope people can learn to trust their lives to God and find the joy in this dependence like I have found. Once you do, you will be willing to follow Christ anywhere, even to death.
Reverend Tyler Miller	One of the great messages of Pope Lohn Paul II's papacy was "Be Not Afraid". What a blessing that statement has been for me. The choice to enter the seminary is a series of one leap of faith after another. Each one is a great blessing through which God displays His infinite love for each of us, and each one helps us to grow in love for Him. As we progress through our seminary experience, we become far more aware of the wonders of our faith, of the richness of our Church's theological tradition, and of the wealth of the various personalities with whom we serve. It is a great grace to follow Our Lord into whatever vocation He may call us, but it is even moreso a profound blessing to follow Him into Priesthood." "May you be blessed with the strength to follow Him in love.
Stephen Thompson	When I chose this vocation, it took much discernment and prayer and a firm purpose to serve God according to His Will. I had many experiences in the world while serving in the United States Marine Corps and working in various occupations and attending college once leaving the military. There was a longing in most of what I had accomplished to gain a closer relationship with God. I had not felt close to God mainly because I had been away from the Church for about 10 plus years of my life up until the age of 30 when I truly sensed that God was calling to something greater in my life. When I returned to the Church in December of 2002, I began to serve in several capacities of ministry such as Server, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. It was in these capacities that I felt even closer to God and sensed that He was still drawing me closer to Him. I began the first year of the Permanent Deaconate program in the Springfield Diocese with the class of 2007. I felt closer to what God was calling me to but still there was something missing. After speaking to Fr. Mark Schulte, my pastor at St. Bernard’s in Wood River, we came to the conclusion that God may be calling me to the priesthood. I made my prayer of discernment after our discussion and returned to him after one week with my decision to begin the seminary process. I entered seminary at Conception Seminary College in Missouri in August of 2004 and completed two years of the college program and am now beginning my first year of Theology at Mundelein Seminary just outside of Chicago. It has been a long and challenging journey up to this point, but I have never been happier and look forward to serving God and His people in the Springfield Diocese upon ordination in 2010.