Name:Rev. Mr. John E. Donia Age: 26
Class: IV Theology
Home Parish: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Philadelphia

When did you enter the seminary? I entered Saint Charles Seminary on September 2, 1998.

What/Who  influenced that decision?
My decision to pursue a priestly vocation was influenced and nurtured by my loving family and by the many dedicated priests who served at our parish. As a high school student I worked at our parish each weekend and had the privilege of interacting regularly with our parish priests.  Witnessing their lives awoke in me an awe and wonder for the priesthood and a desire to follow in their footsteps.

Why do you want to be a priest? 
I want to be a priest in order that I may lead others to Jesus. To be a priest means to be radically conformed to the person of Jesus Christ. I hope to live out this profound interior union with Jesus in every aspect of my life.

What did your family and friends think about your decision to enter the seminary?
By the grace of God, each family member’s support and joy for my priestly vocation has sustained me throughout my seminary training. From the very first moment I told them of my decision to enter the seminary, my family and friends have been most supportive and encouraging. It is very humbling to know I have the prayers and support of so many people. 

What do you do for fun? 
For fun I like to read, listen to music, and I especially enjoy the company of my family and friends. 

What is it like to live in a seminary?
Living in a seminary these past eight years has been a unique and rewarding. While each one of us is different and we come from various parts of the country, we share the same common purpose: to discern whether we are being called to the priesthood. Furthermore, we are afforded the wonderful opportunity to gather together at several moments of the day to pray and to celebrate the Eucharist as a community and to enjoy each other’s company.

What advice would you give to a young man thinking about the priesthood?
If you believe that God may possibly be calling you to the priesthood, I encourage you to have the fortitude and strength to respond to that calling with an undivided heart.

Who is your favorite Saint and why?
Saint John Neumann is my patron and favorite saint. The humble life he lived in untiring devotion and dedication to God and His people is an inspiration to me and a powerful example of what priesthood truly means.