The various paths to the seminary

The U.P. Catholic

There are currently eight men studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Marquette. Each man has come to the seminary to continue their discernment throughout a variety of paths.
William Heiny

For William Heiny, one of the diocese’s newest seminarians, he jumped into the seminary just months after graduating from high school. The Brimley, Mich. native’s discernment has taken place gradually over the years.

“I had wanted to be a priest from a very young age, but I only really devoted serious effort to it in my last few years of high school,” said Heiny.

A book that helped guide him was Fr. Brett Brannen’s book, “To Save a Thousand Souls.” It gave him “a very good realization of the reality of the priestly life, and became very drawn to the image of a priest as a bridge builder between God and his people.”

Heiny has also found his discernment as a time of deep surrender. “As I came closer to making a decision about entering seminary, I also realized that I could not resolve all of my doubts and fears on my own. I needed a life of prayer and communion with Jesus,” he said.

“This life of prayer requires a radical surrender. It took me a while to accept that God could very well say that He has something else in mind for me. Surrender brings amazing peace, however. I trust now that none of the time and effort I give to God will ever be wasted.”
Heiny began his propaedeutic year in July 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn.
Zachary Mazurek

Zachary Mazurek began his studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit following his college graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he was also a collegiate athlete on the cross country and track teams.

Like Heiny, the thoughts of becoming a priest were planted with Mazurek in his youth.

“Starting at a young age I became interested in watching the altar servers at a Mass. I would also play Mass with my younger siblings at home.”

It was during his junior year of college where God made it clear he was calling Mazurek to the priesthood. A pivotal person for Mazurek in his discernment at this time was his campus ministry chaplain, Fr. Adam Laski.

“At one point Fr. Laski explained how he’s still a normal person, but God called him in a super unique way to minister the sacraments and celebrate the Mass,” he recalled.

“He’s able to live that in such a joyful and loving way. That made it more tangible to me that someone who was a young  priest, living the call out,” said Mazurek. “It really put into perspective that, maybe that is what God wants for me.”

He invited Mazurek to pray more, go to daily Mass and adoration. It was through the experience of adoration where Mazurek knew where he was being called.

“It was in the silence, in the stillness of hearing God. My prayer became, ‘God what do you want for me? You’re the one who knows what’s going to make me the most happy, most fulfilled, what’s going to bring the greatest glory to you and everyone around me,’” he explained.

Mazurek is currently in Theology III at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. God willing, he will be ordained to the transitional diaconate later this spring.
Drew Langton

Drew Langton hails from South Rockwood, in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. He came to know the Diocese of Marquette after connecting with the priest who baptized him, Fr. Jack Fabian. This led Langton to the Upper Peninsula. He originally spent time in discernment with the Companions of Christ the Lamb in Paradise, Mich. before becoming a seminarian for the diocese.

“From a young age I felt a strong calling to the priesthood, but convinced myself clerical life was more of a career option than a holy calling,” explained Langton. “My hardened heart followed the alluring promises and passion of the world instead of God’s plan.”

According to Langton, he has spent time as a carpenter, a horse handler and chimpanzee caretaker, a musician, a graphic designer and newspaper editor. “And, an all-around confused young man. Through all of this, God never stopped calling me,” he added.

For Langton, his motivation to continue discerning the priesthood has been found in hearing God in Eucharistic adoration and silence.

Langton is a Theology II seminarian at Sacred Heart Seminary.

To read this story and others in The U.P. Catholic, visit https://www.upcatholic.org/