On the edge of my property a lone peach tree grows between the woods and the gravel drive. Years ago, someone probably finished eating a peach and carelessly tossed the pit out of their car window. With the dense undergrowth, the pit overcame insurmountable odds to sprout into a sapling and grow into a small tree. 
Tom Holland’s magnificent book “Dominion” develops in detail what amounts to a very simple proposition – namely, that Christianity is responsible for many of the central values we take for granted and assume to be universal. In point of fact, he says, our insistence on the dignity of the individual, fundamental human rights, the principle of equality and, perhaps above all, that the poor, the marginalized and the victimized ought to be specially cherished, flows from basic Christian convictions. 
Nearly 40 years ago, on a Tuesday, my sister Erin ran into the house with the excitement and enthusiasm that only a 7-year-old girl with a story to tell could muster. Immediately, she began to tell my mother about the wonderful adventure that she and her older brother had been having outside. Now she described in great detail the clouds and the birds and the sunshine and the neighbors who walked by all as we were engaged in the challenging project of getting a kite to fly on a Tuesday afternoon.
As a small child, I was a bit of a religious nerd. I’m not sure why, but I was the oldest child, the only daughter, and our little Catholic mission parish in farm country was central to our lives. From a young age, faith intrigued me.
There are so many things clamoring for our attention these days, in all different kinds of ways. We are assaulted by advertisements, which are practically unavoidable on every video we watch, on billboards, on the radio and on our social media feeds. 
We began the season of Lent this past Feb. 14, precisely on Valentine’s Day, a day of love and friendship. What better time to begin this season with the true love of Jesus in His self-giving for us!
In Roman Catholic parishes, the rituals of Lent begin with the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. But many Eastern Christians – both Catholic and Orthodox – set the tone for the penitential season of Lent by observing another tradition: Forgiveness Sunday.
Shhhh.
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 45 men currently enrolled in study and formation for the priesthood: 24 men at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, 20 enrolled in major seminary, and one taking a pastoral year.
Anthony del Cid Lucero, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Newton, is among those studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. He entered the diocese’s seminarian program in 2017, first attending St. Joseph College Seminary.
To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and how his call to discern the priesthood has unfolded, the Catholic News Herald recently asked him about his discernment process:
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Del Cid Lucero: I first heard my call as a child. When I was about 6 years old, I longed to be an altar server. It was after my first Communion that I started serving. I knew that God was calling me to think about the priesthood. However, it was not something I wanted to admit to, because everyone kept questioning me about being a priest. It was about my senior year in high school when I started asking myself what I would do with my life. Growing up and going to public school, I was always encouraged to think about what I wanted to do when I grew up. However, I was never really taught in public school to pray and ask the Lord what He wanted me to do. My senior year in high school is when I started asking questions and bringing them to prayer, and it is when I realized that I was asking the wrong question: what do I want to do versus what does God want me to do. As I kept praying and longing for the sacraments, it became evident that God was calling me to discern a vocation.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Del Cid Lucero: The first person I talked to about discernment was my pastor, Father James Collins. Father Collins has been my pastor for over 20 years. He has an inspiring vocation story that encouraged me to pray for clarity in my discernment. Growing up at St. Joseph Church in Newton allowed me to see the love and zeal he had for his flock; furthermore, how much he loves the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother. One of the things he told me was to be patient and not to be afraid.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Del Cid Lucero: Quo Vadis Days, the diocesan vocational retreat/camp, provided me with many tools to discern. Having the exposure to seminarians and priests was beneficial because it allowed me to see the authentic joy and fulfillment that they had in Christ through their vocations. I think the Eucharistic Congress was essential in my discernment because it allowed me to see priests and seminarians. This is also how I learned about the St. Joseph College Seminary program.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Vocations Office at the diocese?
Del Cid Lucero: In Quo Vadis Days, I talked to many priests, including Father Christopher Gober, the diocese’s vocations director. He guided me through the process.
CNH: Tell us about your discernment process in the seminary.
Del Cid Lucero: One of the things that I have fostered in my spiritual life is praying the rosary daily, asking Our Mother for her continuous prayers with a significant focus on increasing faith, hope and charity for myself, friends, family and the world. I have found that the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross have been beneficial and instructional in my spiritual life. The next most significant thing that I have learned to develop is keeping an internal silence by attending Eucharistic Adoration every day and allowing God to speak.
CNH: What advice do you have for a man who might be thinking about the priesthood?
Del Cid Lucero: My advice to young men who are discerning a vocation is to be patient with oneself and God. God provides on His time. I would also encourage them to grow in love and friendship with God, Our Blessed Mother and the angels and saints. Lastly, I would recommend being consistent with one’s devotions and prayers, even during darkness and dryness. The times that seem to be the hardest to pray due to distractions, lack of motivation, etc., can be the most fruitful and filled with spiritual graces.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Your DSA contributions at work
Seminarian education is funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.
