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From the Brook

Deacon William Joseph Monahan

Age: 36
Where Born: Philadelphia
Where Baptized: St. Matthew Church,
Philadelphia
Home Parish: St. Matthew, Philadelphia
Current Diaconate Assignment: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Morton

Parents and Siblings: George and Anne Monahan; youngest of four children; siblings: Mary Beth Monsalve, 41; George, 40 and Daniel, 37.

Grade School, Year Graduated: St. Matthew School in Philadelphia, 1984.

High School, Year Graduated: St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Princeton, N.J., from 1984 to 1986; Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem from 1986 to 1987. Graduated from Father Judge High School for Boys in Philadelphia in 1988.

College, Year Graduated; Major, Degree: Holy Family College in Philadelphia, 2001; bachelor’s degree in religious studies.

Employment before entering St. Charles: Retail banking; registrar’s office at Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley.

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary entrance date: September 2001.

At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the Seminary?
I began to think about the priesthood when I was about 25 years old. Many people I had gone to college with had settled into employment and were beginning to start families. I recalled my experiences in a high school seminary run by Vincentians, and began to inquire about the priesthood with the Archdiocese, and with various religious orders.

Who influenced you most in your decision to enter the Seminary, and how?
I wouldn’t say there was one particular individual, but many people who have given me encouragement and examples of living their vocation with joy and fidelity. My family, various priests and friends were always encouraging.

Were there any particularly moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the Seminary? This last year?
Cassock Day at the Seminary (in October, when new seminarians wear their cassocks for the first time) was a strong affirmation of pursuing this vocation to the priesthood. Many of my classmates and other new men came from diverse backgrounds, and it reflected for me that God calls men from all walks and stages of life.

What has been your favorite apostolate assignment, and why?
I was particularly moved by my work in hospice care. Although it is a sad time for many relatives and friends, it was a tremendous learning experience to help people to die with dignity, reaffirming that the Lord is with them throughout.

What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles, and how have you met that challenge?
Perseverance is a tremendous challenge. Throughout the process of discernment and formation, you come to face your weaknesses and flaws, but sometimes that can be discouraging. I believe more often you find interior affirmation of your vocation through prayer, but at times this can be manifested in some of your experiences, when one can say, “Yes, this is where God is calling me.”

In comparison to your early days at the Seminary, who were you then, and who are you now?
I believe that I am stronger and more knowledgeable in my faith than before entering. The program of priestly formation emphasizes the integration of all four areas of formation: spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and human. Because of this, you realize how your horizons can be expanded and how you have grown in your own faith. This inspires you to want to share it with others, and bring them to the same experiences.

What will you miss most about St. Charles?
I always enjoyed the break that came at the Forty Hours celebration in early November. It was always a time to take a break from academics, to pray, rest and enjoy many communal activities.

What advice do you have for the current underclassmen about their remaining time at St. Charles?
Try to remain positive and persevere. The schedule at the Seminary can be very full and intense, and it is easy to become cynical and pessimistic. It is easy to “check out” mentally before you actually leave.

What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
Give yourself to the formation program, and always remain open to new things and personal growth. Do not always seek what is wrong with the program and try to change it to accommodate your own ideas.

What do you do for recreation?
I enjoy reading, watching movies and having meals with family and friends. I am also a big sports fan.

What are your favorite devotions and why?
I have a particular devotion to the Miraculous Medal Novena, the Stations of the Cross, and St. John Neumann. I have been attending the Miraculous Medal Novena since I was young. St. John Neumann’s prayers seem to resonate with many practical life situations.

How and when do you pray?
In addition to the aforementioned devotions, the Liturgy of the Hours sets the day’s experiences in their proper context — that of living one’s life with and in the Lord. The hours are set throughout the day, so prayer is continuously present. Also, the rosary is an excellent way of reflecting on the life of Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you, and why?
• The “Good Thief” at the Crucifixion (Luke 23:39-43). To me, it always serves as a reminder of God’s infinite mercy, even to the most sinful.

• The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). It shows how the presence of Christ and the participation in the Eucharist sets ablaze the hearts of all disciples.

What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood is a unique vocation in which those men [are] called to receive the grace to celebrate the sacraments in the Person of Christ. By the means of these sacraments, both the priest and the people he is called to serve are able to grow in holiness and grow closer to God.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
There are many challenges the Church faces today, yet with trust and confidence in God, all things are possible.

What is your greatest hope for the Church?
My greatest desire is that the Church and all denominations (both Christian and non-Christian) grow in mutual respect and unity.

What will you, as a priest, do to combat negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
I believe the best way to combat negative secular influences is to live faithfully according to the teachings of the Gospel — that is, the way of Jesus Christ.

What are your feelings as ordination approaches? How do you envision ordination day?
There are many emotions I am experiencing as ordination approaches, from anxiety that a particular phase of my life, seminary formation, is ending — something with which I have become comfortable and familiar — to a great sense of enthusiasm and hope for what the future may hold.

Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you plan to do as a priest to bring others closer to Christ?
I plan to give myself wholeheartedly and unreservedly to whatever assignment His Eminence deems necessary to fulfill.

—Compiled by Christie L. Chicoine, CS&T Staff Writer