A New Journey to a Familiar Place

A new journey to a familiar place

A sit-down interview with new Vice-Rector of the North American College,
Father Micahel Pratt
 

1. Father Pratt, congratulations on the recent announcement of you being named Vice-Rector of the NAC. What will this entail, and what will be your responsibilities?

 
The North American College is the American seminary in Rome, Italy. For over 160 years it has trained and equipped American seminarians to become Catholic priests. I realize the term “Vice-Rector” might be a little obscure. If the Rector is like the President of the seminary, the Vice-Rector is like the Vice-President.
 
As the Vice-Rector, I will be working closely with the Rector to ensure the seminary is a happy, healthy, and holy environment where the seminarians can learn to be Christ-like priests. Ideally, they will then return to their home dioceses all across America and will be wonderful and loving shepherds for the people of God.
 

2. What was your first initial reaction when they asked you? Can you walk us through your discernment process?

 
The Rector of the North American College, Msgr. Tom Powers, initially reached out to Bishop Konderla to see if he would be open to releasing me for a three- to five-year term to work in the seminary. Bishop Konderla then talked to me about it. It was a complete surprise. I really didn’t know what to say. “Father Pratt, cat got your tongue?” he joked. He then asked me to take some time to learn more about the role, to pray with it, and to discern if this is something I would be willing to do at this time. He said he would do the same.
 
Thus began a period of prayerful discernment. On one hand, there were clear challenges to living and working abroad. At the top of the list would be the distance from the Diocese of Tulsa. I am a native of Stillwater. I was born and raised in this diocese and totally love it. I have served here happily in different assignments for the past 12 years. Most of the people I Iove most in this world are right here! my family, my priest friends, my lay friends. But there are a hundred other things that would be missed as well: my hangout places, fishing with my nephews, having a car, playing cards with my roommates at Holy Family, American breakfasts, diocesan liturgies, spontaneous priest gatherings, etc. Those will absolutely be missed.
 
On the other hand, there was a real excitement about the ministry. I love working with seminarians. I would be working daily helping form future priests from all over the United States. Ideally, they receive an incredible formation and education experience at the NAC, go back to their home dioceses as priests, and make it happen for the Kingdom of God. The potential impact on the Church in America is very exciting to think about.
 
Ultimately, after weighing it, praying with it, and discussing it with close confidants including my spiritual director, I concluded that I was a “yes.” Since the Bishop was also a “yes,” I now see it as something the Lord is asking me to do.
 

3. What will your day look like?

 
The Vice-Rector does have some administrative responsibilities to ensure the seminary runs well. However, the heart of the assignment will be working directly with the seminarians. Myself and the other priests on faculty will be helping them develop a healthy priestly identity and also to prepare them for ministry.
 
We will be helping them with their own spiritual life regarding prayer, growing in virtue, and developing healthy habits. The seminarians will also need to learn what ministry to the people is like today. We will be helping them learn how to say Mass, preach, hear confessions, how to do baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc.
 
This formation will be through one-on-one meetings, small group discussions, formation classes, or even talks to the entire community.
 

4. You went to school at the NAC. When you return, what are you going to be most excited about?

 
I lived in Rome for five years. It is a special place! Rome has some of the most beautiful churches and artwork in the world. Those make it very easy to pray. Also, there are so many saints entombed in churches throughout the city. I look forward to praying at the tombs of great saints again like St. Peter the apostle, St. Paul, St. John Paul II, St. Monica, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Catherine of Siena, and many many others.
 
The food is also really tasty! And there’s gelato on, like, every street corner. OK, and the wine, too.
 

5. What have you learned about vocations here in Tulsa that you will take with you?

 
I’ve had the privilege of working with young men considering the priesthood and young ladies considering the religious life for the past six years. And I love it! One take away is God has not forgotten His Church. There is a whole army of incredible young men and women who are stepping forward to serve God in a religious vocation.
 
But right now, they are also preparing for proms or are shaggy haired college students or are young adults learning what it’s like to go to work and pay bills. They are normal people who happen to be on fire for their faith and are feeling drawn to a priestly or religious vocation. I have loved accompanying them, supporting them, and helping them navigate the world of discernment. 
 

6. When will the new Vocation Director be announced?

 
The new priest assignments are typically announced shortly after Easter.
I imagine my successor will be included in that.
 

7. Can you speak to the relationship the diocese has had with the NAC?

 
The Diocese of Tulsa has had a long relationship with the North American College. Many of our priests are alumni. To name a few: Msgr. Denis Dorney, Father Paul Eichoff (God rest his soul), Father Chris Daigle, Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg, Father Jack Gleason, Father Matt LaChance, Father Sean Donovan, as well as several of our younger priests ordained in the past five years. We currently have one of our seminarians at the NAC. His name is Robert Williams, and he is from St. Anne’s parish in Broken Arrow.
 

8. If someone is feeling a call to the religious life or to the priesthood, what advice would you give them in their discernment process?

 
There is a tendency to want to figure this all out on your own. I highly recommend not discerning alone. You’ve never done this before — let the Church help you! Feel free to speak with someone like your local priest, a trusted youth minister, or even reach out to the vocations office of the Diocese of Tulsa. We have wonderful ways of helping you discern the priesthood or religious life.
 
I realize even just considering the priesthood or religious life can be scary. However, God is your father! He knows you and created you for a purpose. You can trust Him. If He put you here to be a priest or religious sister, you can trust that is your path to happiness and holiness (even if it is unexpected).