To say St Charles’ Seminarian Mariusz Grzech made a decision to become a priest, would be to get things the wrong way around, he told The Record earlier this week.
The 35-year-old former accountant is now in his third year at St Charles Seminary at Guildford.
Like a lot of men at the seminary, to all outward appearances, his life before entering was a highly successful one.
He had reached the level of manager, had a very good income, and a good girlfriend, but still felt like something was missing.
Prayer helped him to figure out the life to which he believes he is being called.
“It was not because I made a decision. I felt someone was prompting me very strongly, it’s never been a conscious thing, like one day I decided I’m going to try this priesthood business.
He’s prompted me along, meeting good people and receiving good insights,” Mr Grzech said.
When people seem puzzled as to his choice to enter the seminary, he responds by saying it’s not confusing if you understand the concept of vocation, as the plan of a good God who desires fulfilment in your life.
“That’s how I respond because people think married life is it, and [sexual] relationships.
Sure, God designed us, for men and women to be attracted to one another but he gave the grace for those urgings to be overcome, and we all need those graces,” Mr Grzech said.
Mr Grzech prays the full Divine Office with his seminary confreres, participates in Mass and the other Sacraments, and studies during teaching semesters at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
Each seminarian does community service within the seminary community.
Mr Grzech serves as the music co-ordinator, organising music for the Solemn Vespers and Benediction attended by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and leaders form other churches, at the seminary, last Sunday.
The seminarians hail from local surrounds and neighbouring dioceses, as well as from further afield; from Burma, the Philippines, India and Vietnam.
Most of the men are in their mid-to-late twenties.
Living in community is a shaping process, Mr Grzech said, and a largely positive one, even with all the challenges it brings:“Everybody brings their gifts and talents to the seminary and that’s the melting pot that builds us up.
“I feel quite inspired by the guys I am surrounded by. Everyone contributes something, it’s been a good process for me.”
After 2.5 years at St Charles, he said he feels he has his study under control and hopes to dedicate more of his time to becoming the kind of priest he hopes to be.
“I’m starting to cultivate myself and form myself into the image and character of the good priests I look up to…I’m trying to grow in spirituality and [in my] prayer life and really understand the essence of priesthood as Christ wanted it, and as John Paul II wanted it, but I always look back to those good priests I look up to,” Mr Grzech said.