Tim O’Connell

What city are you from?

Colorado Springs, CO

What is your home parish?

Corpus Christi

How old are you?

19 years old

How did the Lord call you to seminary?

The Lord called me to seminary through various signs in my life and in my heart. One of the major signs being that God put a great desire in my heart for service to Him through his Church and his people, as well as the realization that the formation in seminary will help me to become a great man of God and father of God, whether He wants me to be his priest or a husband and father.

What led you to discern your vocation?

I have been heavily discerning, and truly open to, God’s vocation for me for a little over a year, now, but the idea of me being God’s priest first struck me while I was participating in the Mass when I was about 10 years old.

How did you discern your vocation?

I have been discerning God’s vocation for me with the help of a Spiritual Director, with much silent prayer to our Lord, through active service to God’s people, and with continual conversation to Jesus Christ throughout my day in order to try to grow in my friendship with God. Now I am taking the next step in discernment by entering the seminary in order to enter more deeply into discerning God’s call for me.

What excites you most about the priesthood?

What excites me most is being able to love and to serve God by serving his people and being able to be a spiritual father to a multitude of people, as well as being able to help people with their struggles on their path to holiness and being able to give the Sacraments to God’s children so that they may become stronger friends with Christ!

What are you most excited for in college seminary?

I am most excited about the brotherhood and the knowledge that we can all be ourselves and help each other grow into better versions of ourselves in order to become better children of God. I am also excited to learn how to be a true man for Christ, a better son of God, and a good father – no matter what vocation God ultimately calls me to.

What is your favorite devotion?

My favorite devotion is the Mass, because every time I go God reveals something about the celebration that I haven’t noticed before and each time I am able to more deeply enter into the prayer that the Mass is, the foretaste of Heaven.

What interests & hobbies do you have?

I enjoy biking, climbing, hiking, running, swimming, playing Ultimate Frisbee, reading, watching movies, snowboarding, skiing, and hanging out with friends.

Are you related to any priests or religious?

No.

What do your parents think about you entering college seminary in the fall?

They are overjoyed and very proud that I am following God’s will!

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for all of your Prayers and may God Bless you abundantly!