The Grandfather Who Became a Priest

After a lifetime of love, loss, and family, Pat Bruen answered God’s call again—reminding us that vocation isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a lifelong conversation.

In the moments before his ordination to the priesthood, Patrick Bruen held his grandson.

Fifty-five priests gathered around him, watching in awe. Because this moment was foreign to them. None of them have children. None have grandchildren. In the Catholic tradition, priests take a vow of celibacy.

But Pat Bruen had been married to the love of his life for over 40 years.

That was his first vocation:

To love his wife.

To raise their children.

To work hard and provide.

And when his wife became ill—and eventually passed away—Pat heard God calling him again. This time, to the priesthood.

As the Archbishop of Detroit laid hands on him and he became “Father Pat,” something hit me deeply:

We don’t have just one vocation and it's not limited to 'holy orders'. We all have many.

Because a vocation is simply a calling from God.

Our work—whatever it is—is not separate from this calling. Whether we're leading a company, writing code, changing diapers, or managing spreadsheets, if we're doing it with purpose, love, and for the glory of God—that is a vocation.

St. Jose Maria Escriva said it perfectly: "work is man’s original vocation. It is a blessing from God, and those who consider it a punishment are sadly mistaken."

And God is always calling.

The hard part is listening. And responding.

At that Mass, surrounded by Fr. Pat’s three children and fifteen grandchildren, I found myself asking the same question he once did:

“God, what are You asking of me?”

He’s asking.

My prayer is that, like Fr. Pat, I hear Him—and answer

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