John Pietruszka

When was the first time you thought of the priesthood?
The first time I thought of the priesthood was in second grade. Later, I could never quite pinpoint the exact time or reason. I just know that it was about the time I received our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time.

How did your family/friends respond to you entering the seminary?
Because I had been discerning the priesthood for so long, they weren’t very surprised. I found most people in general to be very supportive. Certainly, the members of my parish, Sts. Peter and Paul at Holy Cross Church, were very supportive as I was departing for the seminary, and they have been a mainstay in the times when I have returned on breaks from the seminary.

When you were younger, what did you think you were going to be?
I was quite sure that I would someday enter seminary and, God willing, be ordained. The only other calling I considered was teaching.

What were major Catholic activities you participated in prior to entering the seminary?
I was active as an altar server in my parish from second grade through high school. While I was in college, I was involved with Catholic Campus ministry at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. During that time I also assisted several priest friends in various ministries, usually as an altar server or lector, whenever they asked for assistance.

What is your favorite Scripture passage?
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 143:8: “Let me hear in the morning of thy steadfast love, for in thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to thee I lift up my soul.”(RSV) Probably, my favorite passage is from Matthew 14, where Peter bids Christ to allow him to come over the waters to Jesus. It was the topic of our recent retreat at the seminary and was the subject of many fruitful reflections about how we as members of the faithful are also called to come to Jesus over the waters of sin, prayer, perseverance, etc.

What is your favorite book?
There are many books that I enjoy. Admittedly, most of the books I get to read are for class, but a book I recently read and enjoyed was Msgr. Thomas Harrington’s reflection on his experiences as a fire chaplain. The title of the book is A Call to Save: The Memoir of a Fire Chaplain.

What are some of your favorite and most important spiritual readings / books / passages?
Some of my favorite spiritual readings are certainly the lives of the saints. Particularly, I find myself moved by the lives of St. Maximillian Kolbe and St. Ignatius Loyola. I also enjoy reading the works of St. Augustine of Hippo, notably City of God and Confessions. I also enjoy reading works by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI - John Paul’s Gift and Mystery, on the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination, and Benedict’s The Apostles, describing the twelve who followed the Lord.

Who influenced/ inspired you to priesthood?
I credit Father Charles Porada, OFM. Conv., my former pastor, for much of the inspiration to consider priestly ministry and accept God’s call to enter seminary. Father Charles was a very holy and humble priest who, by the example he set, drew me to follow Christ through the priesthood. I also credit my paternal grandmother, who frequently offered her words of encouragement and who, I know, offered many prayers to Our Blessed Mother for me and my discernment. Finally, I give credit to my father for bringing me to church as a child and providing the basic support in my faith formation.

What was one of the hardest things for you in your discernment?
Probably the biggest struggle for me in my discernment was whether God was calling me to serve in religious life or the diocesan priesthood. Most of my discernment time was spent trying to come to that realization.

What do you think a person who is trying to discern his vocation should be doing to help make the discernment easier?
First, I would suggest that anyone discerning a vocation make it a point to have a regular prayer regimen. He should pray in whatever manner he finds most fruitful; however, I would strongly recommend praying the rosary and attending mass as frequently as possible. I would also suggest that a young man discerning his vocation talk to a priest that he trusts. I worked with several priests in the process of my own discernment, and found it most beneficial.

What do you consider to be one of the great challenges for a priest today?
Probably, the greatest challenge to being a priest today is ministering in the midst of a world that is so counter to the faith and to the truths that the Church upholds. The struggle is to bring forth the message of Christ when the materialist and relativistic ideals that the world holds dear stand in opposition to leading a true Christian life. It is difficult to put forth the messages of humility, respect for life, even the belief in God when our “modern” culture criticizes those concepts and thinks it knows better.

What activities would you recommend in order to foster a culture of vocations?
I would suggest that, to foster a culture of vocations, we must support vocations both at home and in the parish. St. Augustine refers to the family as the “domestic church.” I hope that parents would encourage the vocation with their own sons, being supportive if a son feels the priesthood might be where God is calling him. I would also recommend that all the faithful prayer to, “the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”(Matthew 9: 38) I also know that it is important for our clergy to continue being the examples of good and holy priesthood to the youth. We, as a diocese, are blessed to have many priests, of varying time ordained, who are helpful in this area.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
People might be surprised to know that I have been involved at Battleship Cove and in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a nautical youth program teaching leadership and patriotism, since I was ten years old. I have managed to continue my involvement with both entities, participating during seminary breaks whenever possible. I also have been around horses for a number of years, my mother having owned horses since I was in sixth grade. While I don’t find much time to spend with my mother’s horse now, because of other activities, I still have an interest in them.

What do you enjoy most about the seminary?
I definitely enjoy being in a setting that promotes so many graces. To be able to spend time in the chapel daily, attending mass, praying the Divine Office in common, and attending a Holy Hour is uplifting. I also enjoy the pastoral assignment that I have been given and all of the class work that I am doing.

How did you come to know Jesus Christ?
I came to know Jesus Christ by attending mass as a child, hearing His word in scripture and, when I became of age, receiving Him in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

John's Previous Assignments:

Summer 2009: Spanish Language study in Mexico