Office of Vocations

	Fr. Michael McCandless Holy Family, Stow
1) When did you first think about becoming a priest? I first seriously began considering priesthood as a path for my life in later high school, maybe around junior year. 2) What finally helped you decide to come to the seminary? There were several important priests in my life that really supported me throughout my time of deciding to enter the seminary, especially when it came to that moment of moving from, "Should I do this?" to "I am going to do this." I was ready to go and enter into the seminary because of their encouragement and the reassurance of the community at my home parish, Holy Family in Stow. 3) Who are the most influential people supporting your discernment? My family and friends are on the whole very supportive. Priests that I have known for some time and those I have come to know during my seminary journey have also affirmed my vocation. Lastly, the people at my home parish were once again very influential in pointing me towards the priesthood. 4) What is most helpful about your seminary formation? The immersion into the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church, studying and integrating theology in the intellectual life as a preparation for the pastoral life, and being surrounded by a number of young guys who are striving together to be the best candidates for parish priesthood they can be. Our support for one another as seminarians and brothers is absolutely wonderful and powerful. 5) How did you begin exploring the possibility of entering the seminary? I actually was directed to the diocesan vocation director through a high school theology teacher of mine back at Archbishop Hoban High School. 6) What honest advice would you offer a man who is thinking about the priesthood? The call of God has a funny way of returning into our lives, even over and over again, to gently remind us of the option to check this life out and to remind us that our gifts and person may be dedicated to something other than what are the usual "career choices." My advice is this: If God's call - no matter how gentle or subtle it may be - has returned to you after arriving in a prior period of your life, then the return of God's call is a great indication that it is God authentically reminding you to follow it. In fact, I have found in my own life as well as other men's lives, that until the call is answered, it will keep returning in one's life. Therefore, when it returns, one needs to take heart, not hesitate, and jump in for a year to discern this life. 7) What do you do for fun and recreation? I enjoy doing a whole bunch of past times from sports, reading, working out, time with friends, landscaping, and being with my family. E-mail:

Fr. Michael McCandless
Holy Family, Stow

1) When did you first think about becoming a priest?
I first seriously began considering priesthood as a path for my life in later high school, maybe around junior year.

2) What finally helped you decide to come to the seminary?
There were several important priests in my life that really supported me throughout my time of deciding to enter the seminary, especially when it came to that moment of moving from, "Should I do this?" to "I am going to do this." I was ready to go and enter into the seminary because of their encouragement and the reassurance of the community at my home parish, Holy Family in Stow.

3) Who are the most influential people supporting your
discernment?
My family and friends are on the whole very supportive. Priests that I have known for some time and those I have come to know during my seminary journey have also affirmed my vocation. Lastly, the people at my home parish were once again very influential in pointing me towards the priesthood.

4) What is most helpful about your seminary formation?
The immersion into the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church, studying and integrating theology in the intellectual life as a preparation for the pastoral life, and being surrounded by a number of young guys who are striving together to be the best candidates for parish priesthood they can be. Our support for one another as seminarians and brothers is absolutely wonderful and powerful.

5) How did you begin exploring the possibility of entering the seminary?
I actually was directed to the diocesan vocation director through a high school theology teacher of mine back at Archbishop Hoban High School.

6) What honest advice would you offer a man who is thinking about the priesthood?
The call of God has a funny way of returning into our lives, even over and over again, to gently remind us of the option to check this life out and to remind us that our gifts and person may be dedicated to something other than what are the usual "career choices." My advice is this: If God's call - no matter how gentle or subtle it may be - has returned to you after arriving in a prior period of your life, then the return of God's call is a great indication that it is God authentically reminding you to follow it. In fact, I have found in my own life as well as other men's lives, that until the call is answered, it will keep returning in one's life. Therefore, when it returns, one needs to take heart, not hesitate, and jump in for a year to discern this life.

7) What do you do for fun and recreation?
I enjoy doing a whole bunch of past times from sports, reading, working out, time with friends, landscaping, and being with my family.

E-mail: