Karl Christopher Schuh

Home Parish:
St. Mary’s, Holliston, MA

Seminary Attended:
Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, CT

High School:
Dover-Sherborn Regional High School, Dover, MA

College:
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

Hobbies:

Reading, walking, movies, (bicycling and swimming, years ago, in pre-seminary days)

When was the first time you thought of or about becoming a diocesan priest?

I first thought of pursuing a vocation to the priesthood many years ago, in the late 1980’s. I was doing a lot of personal studying, motivated by a general desire to grow in my knowledge and practice of the Faith.

What were major Catholic activities you participated in prior to attending the seminary?

I attended Mass, made a Holy Hour, and prayed the Rosary everyday for years, prior to actively seeking to become a priest. In one parish where I lived for a few years, I served as a lector and would sometimes work in the rectory, answering the phone or doing other odd jobs for the Pastor. I also took philosophy and theology courses as a lay student at Holy Apostles, prior to being accepted by the Norwich diocese and studying there as a seminarian.

Who influenced/inspired you to consider diocesan priesthood? Please explain.

I believe that my biggest source of inspiration to seek the diocesan priesthood came from my time spent in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, in combination with prayer, particularly the Rosary, and frequent reading from Scripture and the writings of Saints and other holy men and women. My mother has also played a major role in inspiring me to pursue a vocation, simply by being the single most steadfast and faithful Catholic presence throughout my life and especially in my childhood. I have also known and observed many fine priests throughout the years. I cannot say that any single one, above the others, motivated me to seek the priesthood. Rather, in each, I have seen different qualities and strengths that I admired and desired to emulate.

What would you say to a young man who thinks he may have a priestly vocation?

Pray to Our Lady and spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion often and daily if possible. Examine your life and go to Confession frequently. Study the Faith as much as you can, and if you have any inkling or desire to become a priest, by all means, make the necessary inquiries and pursue it. Speak to priests that you know and trust, to get their input and advice. Call the chancery and speak to the Vocation Director to get the ball rolling and find out what is involved in a priestly vocation. A persistent desire to become a priest may well be the voice of Jesus calling you, even as He called the twelve Apostles, two thousand years ago. Do your best to discern and answer that call.

What activities would you recommend in order to help foster a culture of vocations to priesthood or religious life?

Vocations begin and are nourished within the context of family life. Families must go to Mass together on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation. The family should regularly say prayers together, such as the Rosary and grace before and after meals. Children should be taught basic prayers and know them before they enter into pre-school or kindergarten. Parents are the primary educators of their children and should begin teaching them to know Jesus, Mary, the Saints, and the basic truths of the Faith before they are ever enrolled in religious education programs. Parents must, by word and by example, set a Catholic standard of honesty and integrity for their children in the home, free from the profanity, violence, and impurity that saturates so much of our culture. To this end, children should not be allowed unlimited access to television, internet, and video games, and what they are allowed must be monitored closely by the parents.

What was your career or background before entering the seminary?

After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, I worked for several years as a freelance illustrator, doing artwork on a commission basis, for advertising agencies, book publishers, and newspapers in the Boston area. To supplement my income and during the time I was considering how and when to best pursue my own vocation, I also worked in retail as a cashier and sales clerk.

Please describe the importance of prayer in your life.

The importance of prayer, understood as both participation in the public prayer of the Church, which finds its origin and highest expression in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and private prayer, such as the Rosary and other personal vocal and mental prayers, cannot be overstated. Prayer is absolutely central in the pursuit of any Christian vocation and it is the first and the most important thing that I do everyday. A person’s spiritual life and relationship with God will rise or fall in proportion to their fidelity to daily prayer, made from a sincere and upright intention. As I believe St. Alphonsus is reported to have said: “he prays will be saved and he who does not pray will be lost.”