Growing up Catholic, I always appreciated the Church and the priesthood. The first big nudge in my discernment came the summer after my freshman year at Carroll College, where I encountered priests near my own age for the first time.
That summer, I volunteered at Legendary Lodge, the Diocese of Helena’s beautiful summer camp, and attended World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Both were amazing experiences, but the summer as a whole felt spiritually dry. When I reflected and prayed about it, I realized that the Mass had made the difference in those two experiences.
I asked the Lord: “What job could I get where I would have a priest there to celebrate Mass for me every day?” Immediately, I realized the obvious answer: I could be close to the Lord daily in the Mass as his priest!
Many more nudges were needed to get me to seminary and ordination, but the Mass has remained a source of great joy throughout my discernment, my formation and my seven years as a priest.
Father Nathan Scheidecker
Diocese of Helena
Helena (Mont.) Council 844
Learn more at diocesehelena.org/vocations.








