In my parish, we’ve just begun a novena to St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests. It is one way to offer a prayer for vocations, and to raise awareness.

In North Carolina, the local paper has a great vocation story — and it’s also a conversion story, about a young man named Michael Burbeck:

In many ways, Burbeck is an unlikely priest.

For starters, he’s young. The average age at which priests are ordained is 35, and many come to the priesthood as a second career. Burbeck, by contrast, will be 29 when he is ordained.

Plus, he didn’t grow up Catholic. Only 6 percent of priests are converts. Burbeck grew up in the Church of the Nazarene, a small Pentecostal denomination with none of Roman Catholicism’s elaborate rituals and centuries-old liturgies. Finally, Burbeck showed no sign of spiritual searching in his youth. His mother, Christina, said he slept through most of his classes at Apex High School, where he graduated in 2002, with an attitude she called “mildly belligerent.” Before he spent several months in Europe with his older brother, Danny, when Michael was 18, his chief passion was horseback riding.

“He’s got a red-blooded American man in him,” said Joshua Davis, a friend who lives in Henderson. “He likes rock climbing, cars, trucks, mudding.”

But his parents, both of whom hold doctorates in experimental psychology, said that when he makes a decision — such as his decision to go to Europe — it’s deliberate, reasoned and unwavering.

Faith was the last thing anyone expected him to find in Europe. But the beauty and majesty of the continent’s great cathedrals drew him. He found himself stealing a few moments to sit in silence — first quietly, then reverently and prayerfully. He visited Il Duomo, a cathedral in Florence, the churches of Assisi, and, of course, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

He said the experiences left him breathless. “At St. Peter’s, I spent three hours walking around in a daze,” he said. “My experience of the presence of God that met me there was remarkable. I lost sight of everything else.”

Later, he would be able to explain what drew him to Catholicism: its rich body of teachings developed over thousands of years and its sacramental understanding that God works through physical signs, such as oil, water, bread and wine.

But when he met his parents in London at the conclusion of his trip, he explained his call to Catholicism and to the priesthood in simpler terms. He wanted to be a priest.

His parents suspected it was coming. They had noticed a change in him since his trip began. In brief telephone conversations and e-mail messages, he sounded less cocky and imperious, more open and attentive.

“There was a quietness and peacefulness of spirit about him,” said Christina Burbeck.

Christina and Steve Burbeck always believed in letting their children pursue their heart’s desire, but they were not quite prepared for Michael’s pronouncement.

Knowing her son’s academic prowess and keen mind, Christina Burbeck told Michael that he had a responsibility to use his gifts.

“I believe my faith is my greatest gift,” he replied.

Go to the link and read the whole article. It’s informative and, best of all, inspiring. Let’s keep men like Michael Burbeck in our hearts, and in our prayers. We need more like him.