My name is Thomas Crowley and I am a parishioner at Church of the Resurrection in Lansing. I was blessed in my life to have a wonderful family to show me the beauty of the Catholic faith and the first time I wanted to be a priest was when I was 4, but only because I thought they only worked for 1 hour a week at Sunday Mass (which couldn’t be farther than the truth)! The faith was never really my own though until my junior year of high school when I encountered the Lord on a Kairos retreat and in that moment I learned that I am His beloved son and He loves me infinitely more than I can imagine! Throughout my senior year of high school I began to feel the call to the priesthood, but I didn’t want it. So, I went to the University of Michigan and the Lord allowed me to hit my low, but in that moment He was there and offered to carry me, and through this the depth of my relationship with Him grew. Then one Sunday I was at mass and the Lord pulled out a 2x4 and hit me over the head and His call was loud and clear, but it was never forced instead a clear, loving invitation that cut to my heart saying “Be a priest!” At first I tried to keep running, but as I gave the Lord more time He made my and His desires clear to me, and now I can say that my yes to His invitation is the most peaceful and joyful yes I’ve ever made and I am excited to see where His loving will is leading me!