One would think that living in a community would be crazy hard. The community that i am in now is a great mix of guys from different parts of the country and all have different stories. The guys that I live with are all my brothers. We came in to this year not knowing each other and we quickly bonded and grew in that brotherhood. I came into the community this past August 2007. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was to expect. I came into it with an open mind, and I had the notion of already living in a community. I come from a family of six kids.I am the oldest of the six.

I come from Warwick, RI where i have lived for the past 9 or 10 years. I never really thought about the possibility of being a priest until I was a senior in high school. My grandmother had just been diagnosed with cancer. I went to the hospital to visit her. I skipped school that day so that I could go and visit her. Well, my mom was at the hospital when I arrived, and I was busted for skipping that day. My mother was talking to the chaplain there when all of a sudden, I hadn’t said a word, and the priest turned to me and said, “If you don’t become a priest your mother is going to hell”! I was completely taken aback by this comment, I did not know this man, and who was he to say such things about my mother. Well turns out, they knew each other. So it was a big joke.

That same night while busing tables at a local restaurant, a retired bishop came in for dinner. With out me saying anything more than ‘hello’ to him, he said “Son, I feel a strong vibe coming from you, have you ever given the priesthood a thought?” I told him that he was the second priest to say something to me that very day.

When my Grandmother was on her last few days of life, I watched her receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was beautiful yet completely nerve racking at the same time. I was not yet ready to let go of my grandma, my ‘Nana”. But I knew that it was not up to me. After my grandmother received the sacrament, which she wasn’t conscious for, I suddenly felt physically ill. Something had just changed inside of me. I couldn’t quite explain it, but there was something different.

After my grandmother had passes away, the vocations director was preaching at her memorial mass as part of his visit to the parishes talking about vocations, and trying to recruit. I introduced my self to him and told him that I may be interested in the priesthood. My family had no idea what I was up to. There were many a night when I visited the seminary. My parents thought that I was out bowling with friends. I began the application process for the Diocese of Providence, in Rhode Island. I had almost finished with the application process when reality set in – I come from a big family; I have 3 biological brothers (4 if you include me) and two stepsisters. If I became a diocesan priest, I would be alone in the rectory. I wanted something a little more communal.

So, I put my name in to a religious order database on the internet. Over the next couple of weeks I began getting informational packets from the Franciscans, the Benedictines, and of course the Salesians. They had all given me a form letter welcoming me to the discernment process. They all said that they would like me to come and visit their community of seminarians. The Salesian letter stood out though. It was hand written which was a plus in my eyes and I gave them the most attention because it was something personal. I gave this letter more interest than the others because someone took the time to write it rather than just inserting my name into a blank line.

So, I visited the Community in New Jersey. I loved it. From the time that I had walked in the door I felt like I was home. The people there were very nice and welcoming. They made my visit very enjoyable. I got to partake in a retreat to high school aged persons and a little older too. I also got to play soccer with the Brothers. I made another trip in February. It was just as good as the first. I decided to take the application home with me to pray about. But I filled it out that night and handed it in the next morning before I left to go back to my house.

Now it was a waiting game. They told me I would know by Easter if the Provincial would accept me or not. So on Holy Saturday, I got my acceptance phone call. It came from the Vocations Director, Fr. Steve Ryan, S.D.B. The part of that phone call is the most vivid memory forever for the fact that I was visiting my grandfather. It was through him and my grandmother that I discerned I had a vocation. So it was bitter sweet to find out in front of him. He was the first one to know.

I had been accepted into the Community. It is a great feeling. My parents were very happy, and so was I. I still keep in constant contact with my family, this is very important to do. Once a person enters, it does not mean that you are now no longer in the family. Your biological family becomes part of the Salesian family. It is a wonderful life in which I love very much, and I am glad that I said “YES” to God and to His will. I hope that I can be of any help to any one who is discerning a vocation. If you have any questions, please email me. Irishsalesian@gmail.com

In Christ, through Mary,

Adam Dupre.