Fr. Tim Horan, Director of Priesthood Vocation Awareness

WELCOME! I’m glad you’ve stopped here to meet the Vocation Awareness Team for the Diocese of Rochester. I’m Fr. Tim Horan, director of this dedicated team and pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church in Rochester.

Mind if I share with you part of the journey that brought me to this point?

I don’t know how it came to be, but I was blessed with the gift of faith. I’ve always sort of known that God was there. My parents played a big part in bringing me the faith, and many others strengthened it by sharing theirs. So, any story about my journey to the priesthood has to begin there – I believe in God, a God who loves me and watches over me. I believe that God put that belief inside me from the beginning.

You might think that would make the choice of priesthood clear and easy. That’s NOT how it happened. You see, God wasn’t the only one in my life. There were many other people and things that called out to me. There were girlfriends, Woodstock (yes, I’m a child of the 60’s!), Vietnam (and protesting), college, beer – let’s just say that God had some trouble getting my attention.

It was through a series of events and experiences, too many to mention here, that I came to feel my path would be somewhat “different” from the paths of my friends. I was forced to ask the question, “What should I do while I’m here?”

That’s when I finally decided to ask God what He thought I should do with my life. I said, “Lord, if you are really there and if you have a plan for my life, you’re going to have to start showing me. And please, Lord, help me to hear you.”

God answered that prayer. Basically, God amazed me.

God sent me “moments” that were really beautiful or hugely funny. These moments sometimes moved me to tears, because it was clear that I wasn’t the one creating them. There was a truth out there that was revealing itself to me and it was staggeringly beautiful. I realized this truth was a person, and this person was talking to me! God was letting me fall in love with Him. I would learn to talk to God like my dearest friend.

Now, this is not the stuff of which just priests are made. God wants all of us to fall in love with Him. But, my ideas of priesthood (begun, but ignored in grade school) started in a new way.

I started hearing things like, “Tim, you’d make a good priest. Did you ever think about it?” or “When are you going to stop fooling around and think about going into the seminary?” Most annoying was, “Tim, it’s time to grow up. This is not a game, this is your life. Do something. Make a difference.”

I’d hear good and honest people say these things and I had the feeling they were saying this stuff because God was trying to speak to me. After all, I did ask the Lord to make it something I could hear!

Well, guess what? It was the Lord and I did hear. That was over thirty years ago and I have been a priest for more than 25 of those years. I have no doubt that this priestly life is the one that God meant for me and it brings me great joy.

So, to all of you young people – go find God! Where? Wherever your heart gets stirred by beauty. Wherever you get pulled out of yourself to meet something bigger and better than you. Wherever you’re moved to tears because you can’t stand how wonderful it all is. God is looking for you! Just watch for the signs.

And, should you be a guy who's in church one day and sees a priest doing his thing and says to himself, “I could do better than that,” give me a call at 585-461-2890 or e-mail me at fhoran@dor.org. We'll talk.  We need you!

Mrs. Carol Dady, Coordinator of Priesthood Vocation Awareness

Fr. Paul Bonacci

I’m Fr. Paul Bonacci, pastor of the Schuyler Catholic Community of St. Mary of the Lake in Watkins Glen and St. Benedict in Odessa. As a member of the VAT, I represent the Chemung/Schuyler and Eastern Steuben regions of the diocese. I am a native of Waterloo, New York and grew up in St. Mary’s parish there. I attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University and was ordained a priest by Bishop Matthew Clark on June 22, 1991. Prior to coming to Watkins Glen, I served in parishes in Fairport, Corning-Painted Post, Ithaca and Geneva. In addition to my current assignments as pastor and VAT representative, I am Chaplain of Emergency Services for the city of Ithaca, Chaplain of the Monterey Shock Incarceration Facility, and I serve on various Diocesan Boards and Committees. You can see that life as a priest is never boring!

Some of my “non-priestly” activities have included being a disc jockey, a deputy sheriff, a high school sports official (I still officiate HS football), and 21 years as a volunteer firefighter (still active). Fr. Paul

Fr. William Coffas

I was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2004. Currently, I minister in the Southern Tier of our diocese as a parochial vicar for Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Community in Geneva. Prior to my ordination, I attended seminary at the Theological College and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and earned a Master of Divinity (2004). I also hold a Bachelors of Science in Communications (1994) from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Before entering the seminary I worked in the human services field with people with various disabilities as a job developer and trainer. Having grown up in Rochester, my home parish is St. Ambrose.

The journey of preparing for the priesthood, as well as my ministry as a priest, has not been without its challenges; however, I have received countless blessings as a diocesan priest. For example, it has been a blessing to travel with parishioners amid their various journeys in life. Whether it be baptizing a newborn baby, hearing a person’s confession, presiding at a wedding or anointing a person in need of healing, it is a blessing to abide in the presence of our God who is Emmanuel, God with us. In no other aspect of my ministry is God’s presence stronger than in the Eucharist. It is humbling to realize that God has chosen me, with my various shortcomings, to preside at the Eucharist through which Christ is physically present for his people.

If you feel God is calling you to the priesthood, take the first step with our Lord, He is walking with you every inch of the way. And reach out to others who will encourage you.

Feel free to e-mail me; I would be honored to journey with you as you consider what God is calling you to. My e-mail is Fr. Bill

Fr. Francis Eworo

Fr. Jim Fennessy

Fr. Scott Kubinski

I’m Fr. Scott M. Kubinski, currently pastor of a cluster of parishes in eastern Tompkins County: All Saints, Lansing; Holy Cross, Freeville/Dryden; and St. Anthony’s, Groton.

I grew up in Elmira, New York, the middle one of three boys.  What I remember most is the faith of my parents, which they passed on to each of us.  We went to Mass and prayed as a family on a regular basis—I don’t even think I thought much about it.

Practicing my faith was a normal part of life, as much as going to school.  I remember being in 2nd grade and our pastor, Fr. Szcepaneski, came into the classroom and asked the boys if any of them wanted to become priests.  80% raised their hands.  Somehow I’ve always remembered raising my hand, as if I were making a promise.

Of course, you can’t really make a lifelong promise in 2nd grade.  In fact, shortly after that I became an altar server and had two bad experiences early on.  First: I dropped the Sacramentary (the book that contains the Mass prayers) and it “rolled” down the altar steps for all to hear and see.  Talk about embarrassing!  Secondly, soon after, I was serving a funeral and dropped the thurible containing the hot charcoal used for incense—the charcoal burned the Persian rug in the sanctuary.  It was the only time I ever saw the assistant Pastor, Fr. Leonard, visibly upset.

Believe me, any thoughts of 2nd grade promises disappeared completely!  At least until college.

I attended St. John Fisher College in Rochester with the intention of being an accountant—which is amusing in retrospect because today I don’t even like balancing a checkbook.  Through a series of coincidences (lots of them), the thought of priesthood entered my mind and I began to explore what that might mean for me.  I will say this, if God is leading us to something, God gives us multiple clues along the way.

From the time I entered Seminary (Jan 1975) until my ordination (June 1984), I learned more about God, about myself, about life, about other people, than I’ve learned in all my other years combined.  I took two years off in the middle and had jobs at a Convenient store, as a dog washer, working with a Psychologist at a Developmental Center, and as a stock room worker at a factory.  Nothing quite compares to priesthood.

What I like most about the priesthood is the awesome sense that God actually works through me in the lives of people!  Me!  What a privilege it is to be with people at meaningful times of their lives.  There is no greater joy for me than seeing someone open his or her heart to the Lord.  And, it’s not that I’m any worthier than anyone else—it’s just what I believe God has called me to do.  All my life I’ve wanted to help people.  For me, I know there’s no better way.  And, while the journey to priesthood has been filled with all kinds of ups and downs and lots of questions, etc., this seems to be where God wants me to be.  God never leads us to anything that isn’t good for us, no matter how much we may wonder along the way.

If you might be “wondering” yourself, don’t be afraid to explore.  God will let you know what’s right.  And God will only lead you to good things.  Fr. Scott

Fr. Mickey McGrath

Fr. Pat VanDurme

In 2005, I celebrated 5 years as a priest! I attended seminary at the American College in Leuven, Belgium and got to live in Europe for over six years. I grew up in Dansville – a small town in the center of the diocese. I was the youngest of ten children and never thought I would do all that I have done. The last time I was in Rome, I met Pope John Paul II – for the third time – and I remember thinking to myself, “How did I ever get from small town Dansville to Rome and hanging out with the Pope?” In 2004, I was named pastor of a new parish, Our Lady of the Valley. Our Lady of the Valley is made up of St. Ann and St. Ignatius in Hornell, St. Joachim in Canisteo, and St. Mary in Rexville. It’s the most southwestern parish in the Diocese of Rochester.

It may sound simple, but I think it is important to let others know that I love being a priest! I used to be an instructor for Outward Bound. I would teach whitewater paddling and rock climbing to groups of teenagers. I have had some amazing adventures over the years, but nothing can compare to my life as a priest. It is a lot of work, but the best part is at the end of the day. When I go to bed, I can look back and see where I have really made a difference in people’s lives. I can’t think of another way of life, or job, that means as much to people as the priesthood.

All the stereotypes of what a priest is and what a priest does are gone. Everyday, I see that the priesthood is an exciting life that is anything that I decide to make it. Best of all, I have a ball serving God and his people and that is a great thing. People say to me after Mass, “you seem so full of energy.” I always respond, “How can you not get pumped up praising God and doing what we are doing!”  Fr. Pat

Fr. Bob Werth

My name is Bob Werth and I was ordained a priest on May 25, 1979, over 25 years ago. Almost my entire ministry has been urban, and the major portion has been in service to the African-American community. What a gift I have been given in that regard! I have frequently told people that I am the most blessed priest in the Diocese of Rochester, due to all of my assignments being so wonderful.

Won’t you consider joining me in this ministry? If you do,
…no one day will be the same as the next
…without a whole lot of effort, you’ll be able to make a difference in people’s lives…you will experience and become aware of God’s many faces and gifts
…you will be able to proclaim “freely”, and “for free”, God’s mercy and love
…you will be able to further the building of God’s Kingdom in very tangible ways
…the retirement benefits are out of this world, the best pay of any company on Earth, ETERNAL LIFE

Call me, if you’d like to chat about it (585-482-4280).