Young Men Explore Call to Priesthood at Snowshoe

By Colleen Rowan

SNOWSHOE—Inspired by Pope John Paul II, the Vocations Discernment Ski Trip gathered five young men at Snowshoe Ski Resort who had the chance to explore God’s call to the priesthood in the midst of the beauty of his creation.

“The retreat is inspired by the example of John Paul II, who took the week between Christmas and New Year’s to go skiing every year,” said Father Paul Hudock, director of the diocesan Office of Vocations. “He did this when he was a priest and then later a bishop in Poland. ... He would spend the morning reading, studying and writing about theology and philosophy and he would spend all afternoon skiing.”

Sponsored by the Office of Vocations, the trip was held Dec. 30-Jan.1. Joining Father Hudock on the trip were Father Dennis Schuelkens, administrator of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Wheeling and vocations promoter; Father Mark Galllipeau, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Marlinton, St. Mark the Evangelist Mission in Bartow and St. Bernard Chapel in Snowshoe; Father Eric Hall, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Parkersburg and St. Monica Parish in Lubeck; and seminarians Ryan Stickweh and Justin Blanc.

The five participants are students from Wheeling Jesuit University and West Virginia University. Prayer services were held at Bishop Hodges Pastoral Center in Huttonsville the first night of the trip. Participants also attended Mass and Holy Hour at St. John Bosco Chapel in Huttonsville and a noon Mass at St. Bernard’s. The priests also invited them to participate in Liturgy of the Hours.

“That was part of the whole discernment event—allowing the young men to join in the Liturgy of the Hours,” Father Hudock said. “The priests gave talks about spiritual discernment and how we listen to God at different times in our lives.”

Father Hudock said that the trip provided a chance for the participants to discern God’s call in a peaceful atmosphere.

“There’s a big need for all of us to pray, especially young people and young men at that stage of their life,” he said. “It’s helpful to get away from wherever we are. ... I think sometimes that the natural beauty of West Virginia can speak to us. When I was a seminarian spending time hiking in Dolly Sods, I realized how much I really love West Virginia and that was an important part of my own discernment. ... It is important for us to pray and to look at the opportunities we have to get away from our daily routine and to encourage each other in prayer.”

Father Hudock hopes to sponsor the trip again next year. He expressed his gratitude to the priests and seminarians for attending and Tony and John DeSteffano and Rev. Mr. Louis Beldina, director of Bishop Hodges Pastoral Center, for hosting.