New Seminarians | Peter Whitfield

Peter Whitfield
Graduation Date: May 2018
Major: Philosophy and Spanish
One of your favorite saints: St. Maximilian Kolbe
Seminary: Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, TX

What does SMU Catholic mean to you?

SMU Catholic was essential to my experience at the university. The Neuhoff Catholic Center provided material support in the form of free printing and free food, and spiritual support in the form of fellowship, spiritual direction, and the sacraments. When I think of SMU Catholic, I think of Christ’s presence on campus, a spiritual oasis, a home away from home, and the best part of a wonderful school.

Describe your call to the priesthood.

As far back as I can remember, I felt a tug toward the priesthood. When I was a child, the idea would frequently enter my mind that I might be called. My habitual response was to ignore or deny the thought. I sometimes became uncomfortable at Mass when we prayed for vocations to the priesthood.

In 2012, my family moved to Texas from Los Angeles. The move led to a series of events that deepened my faith and helped me develop greater trust in God. A Latin immersion camping trip with Wyoming Catholic College, volunteering at my parish, and serving as a counselor at The Pines Catholic Camp, were all, in retrospect, vital points in my journey toward discerning the diocesan priesthood. These events – and so many more that I have forgotten or don’t have space to mention – helped me to hear the Shephard’s call and prepared me to obey it.

I transferred to SMU from community college in fall 2016. I had just finished my first of two summers at The Pines, where the pull I felt toward the priesthood had become incredibly strong, and much less frightening. I no longer had any intention of ignoring it, which was no longer possible anyway. Still, worried that this sharp increase in my desire to be a priest was a “retreat high,” I decided to take it slow, recognizing that it would be at least two years before I would be able to answer a call to the priesthood. I resolved to concentrate on my vocation as a student while remaining open to wherever God wanted me. I went to gopriest.com and ordered a free copy of Fr. Brennan’s book on discerning the diocesan priesthood, attended Mass at the Catholic Center, and began to pray in earnest for clarity.

One day, after Mass in the Chapel of the Annunciation, my prayer changed. Instead of asking for an immediate and clear answer to the question “what is my vocation?”, I put all my trust in Jesus. I accepted that He would reveal His will in His own time and in His own way. I put my future into His hands. I felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

The very next day, Fr. Arthur said to me: “Hey Pete, let’s talk about vocations.” That one sentence led to spiritual direction and increased involvement with SMU Catholic Campus Ministry. The more time I spent with SMU Catholic, the more my desire to be a priest grew. Altar serving, being a sacristan, reading at Mass, and the Urban Plunges of 2016 and 2017 all provided encounters with the Lord and affirmations that I was on the right track. The Catholic Center provided the friendships, community, sacraments, volunteer opportunities, leadership opportunities, and spiritual direction that I needed to properly determine that the Lord was calling me to seminary.