Hunter LeBlanc entered seminary for the Diocese of Owensboro in fall 2021. FILE PHOTO

BY HUNTER LEBLANC, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Hunter LeBlanc, (second from left), puts on a production of the musical “In the Heights” with several college friends at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green in April 2021. COURTESY OF HUNTER LEBLANC

I first recognized a call to the priesthood as a sophomore in high school. This and a renewed zeal for my faith followed for a year after my reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. I was initially drawn to the intellectual life of the priesthood as I began a journey of diving deeper into the history, philosophy, and theology of the Church. Since then, my view of the priesthood and my relationship with God have greatly changed. Above all now, while I still love the intellectual tasks of the Christian life, I’m pursuing the priesthood because I love God. God wants priests. The Church needs priests, and I want to bring God’s grace to his people.

My patron saint is St. Joseph. At my Confirmation, I chose him because he’s the patron of husbands and fathers. I had not been thinking of priesthood at this time, but it seems providential to me now as his prayers have helped me onto a path of spiritual fatherhood and into a relationship with Mary, our Mother. I was consecrated to Jesus through Mary on Oct. 7, 2020, and this has also been crucial to where I am now.

I have so enjoyed my philosophical studies at St. Meinrad and am excited for the future as I’m just getting started! Getting used to such a new environment has been a challenge but it’s already beginning to feel more like home.

Hunter LeBlanc’s home parish is St. Jerome in Fancy Farm. He is in first year pre-theology at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind. Learn more about vocations in the Diocese of Owensboro at owensborovocations.com.

Originally printed in the November 2021 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.