God willing, I might become a deacon by the summer of 2011 and possibly a priest for the diocese of Gaylord by the Advent/Christmas Season of 2011.
Over the past twenty-six years of my life, I have been blessed by the Catholic Church to learn about prayer, charity, and pastoral counseling through the Archdiocese of Chicago. For the past seven years of my seminary training in Chicago, the Holy Spirit has challenged me to deny myself, pickup my cross, and to follow Jesus, who is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE. Between educating young families about the importance of Catholic education and offering spiritual support to those who are seeking moral guidance from Jesus and His Church, the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to keep following my heart to the altar of Jesus as a future priest. As I continue to discern the call to priesthood for the diocese of Gaylord, I hope and pray that my lay apostolic ministry at St. Francis Xavier in Petoskey will somehow inspire all ages of faith to grow deeper in holiness to always love and serve the Lord above and beyond our limited capacities.
Sincerely
Joseph T. Ortega
