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CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has 45 men enrolled in various stages of study and formation for the priesthood.

Robert Bauman, a member of St. Ann Church in Charlotte, is among those studying at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.

To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and his discernment of the priesthood, the Catholic News Herald recently interviewed Bauman:

CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?

Bauman: It was put on my heart to discern a possible call to the priesthood right after I graduated from college. After about a year of serious prayer and discernment, I had an experience on an eight-day silent retreat that provided clarity, peace and joy about pursuing the priesthood.

CNH: Who did you first talk to about your interest in the priesthood?

Bauman: My first conversation about this was with a priest named Father Michael Hendershott, who left a great impression on me as I was preparing to graduate college, regarding the beauty of the priesthood. His main counsel to me was to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, to be docile to His voice of peace throughout discerning the possible call.

CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore a possible vocation?

Bauman: I read some literature on discernment, went to spiritual direction several times over the course of a year to seek guidance, participated in a weekend pilgrimage to a seminary with other guys discerning, and above all sought to faithfully pray to the Lord about it.

CNH: How and when did you reach out to the diocese’s Vocations Office?

Bauman: I first had a conversation with Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary, and other priests involved in the Vocations Office in the summer of 2020, and then began to apply to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte.

CNH: When did you enter seminary for the Diocese of Charlotte?

Bauman: I began as a Charlotte seminarian this past summer, in August 2021.

CNH: Tell us about your discernment process in the seminary.

Bauman: A big part of formation once a man is in the seminary is not to overthink discernment, and rather orient our time and energy to deeper union with God and fidelity to the commands and counsels of our superiors daily. It is in that context that God will speak heart to heart with the seminarian – to confirm him in his pursuit of the priesthood or slowly make it clear to him that He has other beautiful plans for his life. Along with this has been continuing to abandon myself daily to the providential love of God through a daily Holy Hour, the rosary, and frequent reception of the sacraments.

CNH: What advice do you have for a man who might be thinking about the priesthood?

Bauman: Be patient and unafraid! The Lord has a plan to make you a great saint if you let Him, but you have to let Him work in His timing, not anxiously grasping for an answer whether or not to go to seminary, but rather trusting that the Voice of Peace will guide you in His time and in His way.
Also, be faithful in seeking counsel from priests and good Catholic friends, learning more about what the priesthood really is, and taking active steps in discernment. Above all, continue to seek a deeper union with God regardless of whether or not He is calling you to the priesthood.

CNH: Looking back on your discernment journey to this point, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation to the priesthood?

Bauman: Fidelity to a daily Holy Hour, the rosary, and spiritual direction.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Your DSA contributions at work

Seminarian education is funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.