Seminarian C.J. Wild’s pastoral year of discernment

Firefighter, navy chaplain, seminarian. Western New Yorker Christopher Jordan (C.J.) Wild is all of these. Each role is defined by service; and each offers a different perspective in his journey to the priesthood.

C.J. attends St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore where he is studying to become a Catholic priest. He describes it as a process of constant discernment. “The seminary provides an opportunity for the seminarian to reflect, pray to be open to the will of God, and to ask every year whether this is the right path. It allows the seminarian time to ask should I take another step forward, am I called to this life?”  

 A priest’s education includes four years of undergraduate school and then six to seven years in the seminary. A candidate begins with the propaedeutic year of prayer, spiritual discernment and human formation. It is a year to step away from unnecessary attachments to things such as money and social media, and focus on scripture, catechesis, serving the poor, and reflecting on whether God is calling this person to the priesthood.

Next is a two-year discipleship phase of meditation, contemplation and philosophical studies, followed by a four-year period of theological study called the configuration stage, to allow the heart and mind to become more closely configured with Christ. A part of this stage is a pastoral year where the seminarian spends a year at a parish under the guidance of a pastor before returning to the seminary for the final two years.

C.J. has just completed his pastoral year at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Orchard Park under the guidance of Father James Ciupek. The year serves as an internship, where the seminarian gains practical experience, applying what he learned at the seminary to the ministry. It is also a reflective time. C.J. explained, “It is very much a time of discernment. Am I called to this life? Do I enjoy this? Do I feel renewed, humbled and challenged doing real parish work? The seminarian contends with the ultimate question – is the priesthood for me?”

During his pastoral year at Nativity, C.J. preached at daily Masses, assisted with funerals and weddings, performed altar server training, taught at the school, conducted faith formation sessions for children and adults, served as sacristan, decorated the church, and performed endless behind-the-scenes duties.

C.J. describes his pastoral year as “100 percent very affirming for my own vocation. I was humbled to recognize what attributes the Lord has blessed me with and worked to strengthen and develop those; and I also recognized the areas where I have tremendous room for growth.”

Teaching classes on faith formation to young and old touched C.J.’s heart in a special way. He prayed about the image of the priest as a teacher sharing and passing on the faith. He noted that the heart of the priesthood is fatherhood, derived from God the Father, reflecting love for His children. He fulfilled the role by showing up to school basketball games and musicals, honoring commitments, and striving to grow in patience, communication, discipline and sacrifice.

C.J. has led a life of service from a young age and thought about becoming a priest beginning in fourth grade. His home parish is Our Lady of Pompeii, Lancaster. He attended Canisius High School where he was honored in 2016 with the Mr. Canisius award given to a student who used “heart, spirit, strength and mind to an exceptional degree in service to others and love for God.” He graduated from St. John Fisher College where he studied religion and philosophy and participated in Campus Ministry.

From his high school years until recently, he served as a volunteer firefighter in Lancaster, earning a number of awards including Firefighter of the Year and Fireman of the Year.

C.J.’s desire to serve others extends to his military training. Bishop Michael W. Fisher granted him permission to apply for the Naval Chaplain program. He was commissioned in 2022, promoted earlier this year, and will be joining the 2D Marine Division in Camp Lejeune this summer for further training before he returns to the seminary. Once he is ordained and spends time at a parish, he plans to serve as a chaplain in the United States Navy.

C.J. noted that “Now more than ever, men of faith and virtue are needed to consider the priesthood and become a bridge to Christ.”