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 | By One Voice Staff

Bishop Raica Appoints New Vocations Director

The new Vocations Director, Father Wyman Vintson, took some time to speak with the One Voice about his new appointment. The complete interview follows below.

 

What career did you have before priesthood?

I graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree and a MBA. I worked for a financial software company in Birmingham for 10 years. During that time, I had various roles in software development, support, and client relationship management.

Describe your journey/discernment and what drew you to the priesthood?

I didn’t grow up Catholic, so it wasn’t something that I thought about as a child. In college, I didn’t attend any church. My roommate was Catholic, though, and he began taking his faith more seriously. I started going to Mass with him regularly. At one point, he considered the priesthood. That’s when I was first introduced to priesthood and religious vocations. He eventually discerned marriage, and he’s happily married with two children. The idea first came to me at Mass. I thought that it only came up because it was all so new to me, so I kept pushing it aside. The sacristan at St. Mark’s in Birmingham noticed me at Wednesday evening Mass regularly, and she slowly got me into reading at Mass and eventually setting up for Mass. At one point, she asked me if I had ever considered seminary. I didn’t admit that I had, but I don’t think I fooled her. I did eventually make contact with the Vocations Office and talked to my pastor at the time, Father Joe Culotta. There were a number of starts and stops along the way to seminary, but I finally made it to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

What has been the most edifying part of priesthood?

So far, I think that the most edifying part of the priesthood has been working with college students and seminarians: they bring a vitality and a creativity that helps the faith come alive in different ways.

What are your initial thoughts/feelings about being named Vocations Director?

I am excited about the appointment. The diocese is blessed with a great group of current seminarians. I’ve been appreciative of all the priests in the diocese who have reached out and offered their help and wisdom. It’s certainly a big responsibility, but Bishop Raica, diocesan priests, seminarians, and many others have been very supportive.

What are your goals for diocesan vocations?

Naturally, a primary goal of the Vocations Office is to cultivate priests with a heart to serve all people of the diocese. In conjunction with that goal, we want to reach out to men who are thinking about priesthood. Some additional goals for the Vocations Office include fostering religious vocations for women and greater outreach to the Hispanic and other communities. We also plan to offer vocational opportunities for high school age men and women.

What would you tell men thinking about being called to the priesthood?

I encourage them to continue praying about it and to talk with a trusted priest. I would also encourage them to take advantage of the discernment resources available through the Vocations Office and online. Asking questions doesn’t mean a commitment to seminary or to being a priest; rather, it is part of the discernment process.

What would you tell parents about fostering vocations?

We all have a call to holiness. A particular vocation helps us to live out that call in a concrete way. By helping their children to pray, to grow in virtue, and to make decisions based on the Gospel, parents help foster the primary vocation to holiness. That provides a firm foundation on which their children can more clearly discern their particular vocation to marriage, priesthood, or religious life.