Nathan Hall

Pre-Theology II
Mount St. Mary Seminary

My name is Nathan Hall and I grew up in a rural community around the town of Morse Bluff, NE. My adoptive parish is St. Peter's in Omaha, NE.

Thoughts of the priesthood were occasional as I was growing up. Some of the pastors in my small country parish of Sacred Heart, Cedar Hill would even casually suggest a vocation to the priesthood, but I chose a different life for myself. I made plans of my own and were following through with them. This included dating, joining a band, college life in general, and then my graduation from the University of Nebraska Omaha. After obtaining a degree in Civil Engineering focusing in Structural Design, I was an engineer with reoccurring thoughts of the priesthood. However, I would quickly turn my attention to my work, my bands, and my path of life that I chose for myself. The recession had hit my engineering firm and after almost 2 years with that company I was laid off. This gave me a lot of quiet time...which was spent at St. Peter's church. I would pray to St. Joseph for another job, which I thought meant another engineering job, but "my plans" seemed to differ slightly from God's plans for me. In this quiet, the desire for priesthood would become so prevalent I could not distract myself from it. After some time, I was hired for an excellent job designing bridges and thought the desire of priesthood would subside. I quickly discovered that desire would only grow stronger.

My advice to any one discerning their vocation comes in two parts. First, give God some time in silence so that He doesn't have to compete with distractions. Silence might be awkward at first, but keep trying. Prayer in silence might even become something you look forward to in your day. Second, pray for your will to match God's will. He truly wants you happy and will communicate to you your vocation through your own desires and interests.

This fall I travel to Emmitsburg, MD for Mount St. Mary's Seminary to begin my studies.

Nathan Hall