Timothy Ahn

1st Year Theology

Seminary: Pontifical North America College, Rome

Ordination Date: 2016

Birth Date: January 28

Home Parish: St. Joseph’s (Raleigh)

High School: Castro Valley High School (Castro Valley, CA)

College: B.A. from Biola University (La Mirada, CA) M.T.S. (Master of Theological Studies) from Duke University Divinity School (Durham, NC)

Work Experience: Summer and work-study jobs aside, I have been a career student to this point.

Hobbies: Reading, writing, being with friends, and the occasional video game.

Who Influenced/Inspired you to Priesthood: I would say that my inspiration to pursue the priesthood took shape through the cumulative example of the many excellent priests serving in the Diocese of Raleigh, though my principal influence has been my pastor, Monsignor John Williams of St. Joseph’s. His personal holiness and his love for his parishioners have served as a compelling witness for me as to the beauty of the priestly vocation.

What would you say to a young man who thinks he may have a vocation: I suppose that my advice to a young discerner would be to remember that a priestly vocation is simply an outworking of the baptismal vocation that all Christians have received. As such, it is the primary duty of every young man to grow in holiness, whether they are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or not. Thus it is imperative anyways to participate in the life of the Church devotedly and intensely – to attend mass often, to make frequent confession, to pray with regularity – and if this is done, God will make it clear to a young man what he must do. Then I would assure that young man that when he accepts, he will never feel more happy or liberated.

Favorite Scripture Passage: My favorite passage of Scripture comes from the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John, and it is the words of St. Peter to Christ after so many disciples had abandoned Jesus in light of his declaration that unless one drinks the blood of the Son of Man and eats his flesh, he has no life within him: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69) These words have constantly encouraged me never to be scandalized by the Catholic faith, to hold it fast against any temptation to compromise it, and to remember always that it possesses the words of eternal life. And it still speaks to me – apart from Jesus there is nowhere else to go!

Favorite Saint: Besides the Blessed Mother, my favorite saint would have to be St. Jean Vianney whom I took as my confirmation saint when I was received into the Church. His life was a testament to the ability of God, even the preference of God, to use simple and humble people to accomplish great works. I have attempted to model my life and my spirituality after his, and he has in turn become a great companion to me as I have been discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

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