Finding Your Vocation: An Interview with Father Jerry DiSpicno on Entering the Priesthood

It is a bright and sunny Sunday morning in the quaint town of Bellport, NY. Parishoners of Mary Immaculate Church aren't shopping at the village shops, nor are they sailing their boats from the nearby docks. Instead, they are sitting in the auditorium of the main church, hanging on every word of Father Jerry DiSpigno's Homily.

They don't listen because that is what they are supposed to do. They listen because Father Jerry is actually interesting, unlike many other priests and religious leaders that preach to their congregations. Father Jerry relates to every member of his church, regardless of age, gender and race. You can even say that he is entertaining. Every single one of his homilies has a message that is easy to listen to and understand.

Growing up an Italian Catholic on Long Island, Jerry went to church every Sunday with his family. "The homilies were terrible," he says, "all fire and brimstone. I had the Sisters of the Atonement (in grammar school), and they showed me the joyous side of the Lord. I wanted to share it with others." And thus Jerry's interest in the priesthood was sparked.

Contrary to popular belief, not all priests decide that they want to dedicate their lives to the Lord at an early age. Jerry didn't decide that this was the route he wanted to take until he was well into his college studies. As a student at St. Anthony's High School in Huntington, NY, Jerry approached his guidance counselor, a Franciscan Brother, about becoming a priest. Much to his surprise, he was advised to fight his vocation and follow his original intention to obtain a teaching degree in Special Education. "My best friend in high schol wanted to be a priest, but he passed away and it didn't work out," Father Jerry says. Perhaps his friend planted a few more seeds before he died.

After graduating high school, Jerry headed off to Loyola College in Baltimore, MD, where he became very involved in the Campus Ministry Program as a volunteer. However, he still fought his vocation, as he was advised in high school. He carried on normal college activities, and even dated a few special girls.
"After college, everyone asked me if I was going to be a priest," Father Jerry says. However, he still hadn't made up his mind. He went on a retreat and finally discerned that god was calling him. After obtaining his Bachelors Degree (BA) in Special Education, he headed into the seminary. Even if you decide before getting to college that this is a route you want to follow, you absolutely must get a four year degree from an accredited institution, and then enter into the seminary for at least four more years. Jerry chose to enter the Seminary of Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. He became a Deacon in January of 1981, then was ordained a priest on December 12, 1981.

Priesthood is a lot of fun," Father Jerry insists. "Not dull. Not boring. I love being a priest. You can touch a family on a deep level. It's an intense job, but a fun one. I love it." And so he should. his parishoners love Father Jerry as much as he loves them. They display this love by inviting him into their homes for meals, on vacations with their families, even just spending the day as friends do.

Aside from running the parish, seeing families, administering masses and the Sacraments, and writing his own homilies, Father Jerry also runs a retreat house on the side for priests. In his free time, Father Jerry makes it a point to work in a ministry with the mentally ill.

When asked about the best thing regarding being a priest, Father Jerry enthusiastically replies, "Hands down, you get invited into the intimacy of people's lives. That allows you to see the finger of God at work. You have the honor of holding them, healing them and bringing them to the Lord. They also get a kick out of bringing your homilies to others and exciting them." needless to say, Father Jerry makes a big difference in the lives of others as a priest. This has been his goal all along.

"God doesn't want to punish," he insists. "We don't need sour puss priests." Father Jerry believes that priests should have a zest for life, and really wants people to have fun while knowing Jesus. In order to be a successful priest, Father Jerry believes that new priests should follow his recipe for success.

"Ultimately, kids want to be happy, and have peace and fun. Don't negate the priesthood because of money. You have much more fun than money," he says about his vow of poverty. This vow is a common misconception, giving people the idea that they have to sacrifice everything in order to become a priest. This, in fact, is just not true. "If you don't have to own, you can have everything. You share with everyone. It's a great life."

Even though Father Jerry has several prieses in his family (including his younger brother and two cousins), he did not feel pressured to join the priesthood. There are so many stereotypes about becoming a priest, people don't even bother looking into what is entailed to become ordained or the effect they can have on the lives of others. For this reason, there is a draught for priests as well as religious leaders for other faiths. Religious leaders are not only an important part of the local community, they are an important factor in shaping the world.

Many people, even young teenagers, feel the need to turn to God and become a priest, nun, rabbi, pastor or any other type of religious leader, but are discouraged by their friends, family and society on the whole. A person that can stick to their convictions and follow their call to religion is exactly the type of person that can become a successful leader.

"Anything can happen if we talk to God," Father Jerry says. "People don't want to listen because they are afraid that God will say something bad. God only wants to say to the world, 'I love you'."