The diocesan Office of Vocations recently announced six new men have been accepted as diocesan seminarians for the coming year. Each has followed his own unique path in answering the Lord's call to discern priesthood for the Diocese of Birmingham. Followed herein are brief spotlights on each new seminarian.

Joshua Callahan is a recent high school graduate and a member of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa. He is the second oldest of four children and has been employed at Chick-fil-A for the past three years. Callahan was enrolled in the UA Early College program the last two years of high school. He will begin college seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum. His birthday is July 22.

Ross Gilliland is the youngest of five children and an uncle to seven nieces and nephews. He converted to Catholicism in high school and is a member of St. Cecilia Parish in Jasper. Gilliland graduated from the University of Alabama in 2019 with a degree in human resource management and was active at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish while in Tuscaloosa. After graduation, he served as a Seton Teaching Fellow in the Bronx, NY, and more recently was employed at the UAB School of Nursing. Gilliland will begin the propaedeutic year at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His birthday is April 17.

Michael Masny is the oldest of six children and a member of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham. He is a high school graduate and has worked at Taziki’s during his summer breaks. Masny will begin college seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum. His birthday is Dec. 17.

Franz Mercado was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. at three years of age. He is the oldest of three children and has been a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Homewood for most of his life. Mercado recently graduated from UAB with a degree in mechanical engineering and was an active member in campus ministry while at UAB. Mercado will begin the propaedeutic year at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His birthday is Dec. 26.

Thomas Rogers is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Gardendale and a 2014 graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School. He is the younger of two children. Rogers graduated from Auburn University in 2019 with a major in aerospace engineering and a minor in computer science.  After graduation, Rogers moved to Huntsville, where he has been active at Holy Spirit Parish.  Rogers will begin the propaedeutic year at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His birthday is March 10.

Nick Smith is a member of Good Shepherd Parish in Huntsville. Growing up in a military family, he moved to Huntsville at the age of 11 and has two younger brothers. Smith attended Spring Hill College in Mobile where he studied mathematics and played soccer. After graduation, Smith joined FOCUS and served as a missionary for two years. Upon his return to Huntsville, he has been employed as a teacher, operations research analyst, and a soccer coach. Smith will begin the propaedeutic year at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His birthday is June 9.

For more information about vocations, please visit bhmdiocese.org/vocations.