Priestly Discernment Program

“Now, some are finishing their formation and preparing to be ordained priests, others have families and children,” Brother Antony adds, “but it’s amazing our time at Franciscan helped develop strong friendships that last to this day.”

A member of the Dominicans of the Western Province, Brother Antony made his first vows in 2018. Since then, his formation has included philosophy and theology studies in California, as well as a year of pastoral ministry in Anchorage, Alaska.

“The residency in Alaska was a real joy because it was an opportunity to experience the Dominican life I’ll be living after formation,” he says. “It gave me a sense of both living in community amongst the brothers and within a ministry setting, encountering people through teaching and preaching. It helped confirm this is what God is calling me to.”

This past summer, he also traveled to the Dominican province in Poland. The opportunity allowed him to witness the rich, 800-year history of the order in that country, as well as participate in a walking pilgrimage in honor of St. Hyacinth.

As for the future, Brother Antony hopes to profess solemn vows, after which he’ll have two more years of study before priestly ordination. Then, his assignment could take him anywhere throughout the province, from as far south as Mexico to as far north as Alaska.

For men discerning the priesthood or religious life, Brother Antony’s advice is simple.

“Jump in with both feet, whether that means attending a Come and See, joining the PDP, or applying to a religious community or diocese,” he says. “God actively works through both the joys and struggles. At the end of the day, even if you discern you’re not called there, he uses those experiences to help you grow and prepare you for the life he has for you.”

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Case in point: Over 30 years ago, he was on a Pre-Theologate Program (now PDP) retreat that focused on Divine Mercy. At the time, he didn’t know much about St. Faustina and her messages of Christ’s mercy. 

“God’s providence now has me as the archbishop of the place where most of the visions took place, where the Chaplet of Divine Mercy was dictated, and where the image of Divine Mercy was painted under the direction of St. Faustina. The original image hangs today in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Vilnius,” Archbishop Grusas says. “Growing in trust is key to letting God’s will unfold in our lives.”

Born in the United States to Lithuanian parents, he worked in the corporate world before answering God’s call to the priesthood. He spent a year at Franciscan from 1989-90, then continued his studies in Rome. A summer assignment in Lithuania led to him assisting with Pope John Paul II’s 1993 visit to the newly independent country. Now, Archbishop Grusas has ministered to the Lithuanian Church through numerous roles, including as general secretary—and later as president—of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference and bishop of the Military Ordinariate.

“The occupation of Lithuania, its forced annexation into the Soviet Union, and life under a communist regime leaves people with many internal wounds that do not heal quickly,” he says. “That said, Lithuania has come quite a long way in a relatively short time, in part due to the prayers and sacrifices of those who maintained the faith during years of persecution.”

In September of 2021, the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) elected Archbishop Grusas as president. He looks forward to continuing the CCEE’s work while also helping guide the process of “listening, discerning, and building communion between the various Churches in Europe” during the two-year synodal process the Vatican recently initiated.

Throughout all his ministries, Archbishop Grusas says his favorite aspect of being a priest is experiencing the Lord’s work.

“It is truly awe inspiring when you see God working through you, knowing full well you remain simply an instrument in God’s hands.”

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“Whenever that happens,” Father Edwin says, “you need someone to steady the ship of the parish until a permanent pastor is available.” 

And there’s more! He is also chaplain of Bishop Lynch High School, caring for the spiritual needs of 1,000 students. 

When asked about the trend toward younger vocations directors, Father Edwin says this came about from necessity.

“Older priests are needed for big parishes, so younger priests now fill other types of leadership roles. But it’s effective. A young man thinking about the priesthood might relate better to someone who doesn’t remind him of grandpa, but more like, ‘I could see myself being this person eventually.’” 

So, how to make the priesthood intriguing to young men?

“Teach that everyone has a vocation—to holiness. That primary vocation has specific ways of being lived: marriage, Holy Orders, consecrated life, etc. But don’t view marriage as a default without reflecting on what the Lord might be calling you to.” 

Beyond that, Father Edwin stresses the importance of example: “The more I can be out at events, letting them see that priesthood brings me life and joy—that is planting seeds. I don’t talk right away with every young man about the priesthood, but about how to pray in such a way that he can listen to the Lord and live out what the Lord is asking for each day. A robust prayer life is where vocations arise.”

Father Edwin’s advice to our PDP?

Don’t spend too much time ‘discerning,’ or rather, don’t make an idol out of receiving perfect clarity. What God wants to give you is himself. Save your questions about discernment for the last 10 minutes of your Holy Hour. Spend the first 50 minutes loving God and allowing yourself to be loved. Once you’re secure in being a son embraced by the Father, that’s when the Father will place the ring on your finger. He wants to give you a relationship with him, and that will be the answer.”

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