The Diocese of Austin is hosting a video series entitled The Call, in which priests who serve in the diocese share their experience in hearing God’s call to the priesthood. Father Chris Smith, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange, recently shared his call to the priesthood. Father Smith grew up in College Station and was ordained in 2020.

He first heard the call of Jesus to the priesthood at a youth conference when he was in eighth grade.

“During a time of Adoration, in the stillness and the silence, I had this overwhelming feeling in my heart of love for Jesus, and the question came into my heart of whether I could be one of his priests,” he said.

The thought stayed with him through high school and college at Texas A&M University and as he served with NET ministries after his college graduation. Eventually, he could not resist the call.

“I knew that it was Jesus inviting me to be one of his priests and to discern through going to seminary if that was the life that he had in store for me,” Father Smith said.

The Call can be found on YouTube (search “Diocese of Austin The Call”), and the videos have been shared on the Diocese of Austin Facebook page.