Thomas Croghan

Year in Seminary: Spirituality Year
Age: 20
Home Parish(es): Holy Family and Sacred Heart (both are apart of the Sacred Heart Tri-Parish)

When did you first consider becoming a priest? What made you consider it?
I began altar serving when I was eleven and being around our parish priest was such a great experience. I would say that was when I became open to being a priest, just from all that I had learned about the mass and from seeing all the good that came to our community because we had a very holy priest.

What did you do before you entered the seminary?
I was a college student studying Computer science at Aims Community College planning to finish up my degree at Colorado School of Mines, I was working part time at Office Depot to pay for school. I lived northeast of Denver in the middle of a bunch of farms my brother and I would do work for in our spare time.

What was one of the most important things that helped you take the step into seminary?
I went on a retreat to the seminary and Archbishop Chaput gave a talk to the guys as a group, I felt the Holy Spirit talking through him and I decided that since I had already heard God calling me to priesthood I should get my rear in gear and get into seminary.

What do your family and friends think about you studying to be a priest?
extremely supportive. Especially my parents, I knew they would be, but I was really surprised and humbled by how much support and excitement people showed for me. I really didn’t have anyone who was not supportive of me in my decision, even non-catholic friends of mine are excited for me.

What would be your one piece of advice for a young man discerning his vocation?
Do something, you don’t have to dive in, but check out the waters! Go to adoration, go to church, go to a vocations retreat, talk to God about what you are feeling. Ask God what he wants for you. This will help you no matter what your calling in life is. You have to do something otherwise your life is going to settle the way it is and you will stay in a holding pattern forever and you will always be asking yourself ”What if?”

Meet other seminarians in the Spirituality Year