Charles C. Pavlick was born Nov. 4, 1966, in Pittsburgh, Pa., on
the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of seminarians.
“My parents, Charles Jr. and Martha, had already decided to name
me Charles after my grandfather, so being born on this feast day was fitting
and providential,” said Pavlick. “I grew up in York, Pa., where we had Capuchin
Franciscans at our parish, not diocesan priests. Being a Capuchin Franciscan is
a great thing, and I have Cap friends, but it is also a specific calling, which
I did not have.”
Pavlick thought about a religious vocation in his 30s, but
nothing worked out. He went to law school, which brought him to Washington and
work at different law firms. “I could go to daily Mass and started going to the
1962 Latin Mass at St. John the Beloved Church in McLean. That has been my
parish home since 2007,” he said.
Pavlick’s brother and sisters told him that priests had helped
them with marriages and baptisms, sharing a good homily or retreat. “That’s how
God put the idea of the priesthood back into my mind,” he said.
In 2013, he reached out to Father J.D. Jaffe, vocations director
then, and began life as a seminarian.
“One priest told people I gave up a career to discern the
priesthood and I said all I gave up was a horrific commute,” he said. “I
enjoyed my job and especially liked my coworkers, but I’m glad I entered
seminary and can’t wait to serve as a deacon and, God willing, a priest.”
He spent two years at Theological College in Washington, and now
studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.
“As an older seminarian, I’ve been very impressed with the
prayerfulness and genuine goodness of my classmates,” he said. “I have a lot of
hope for the church.”
Pavlick said he was worried it would be difficult being older but
said the formation faculty and brother seminarians have been supportive. “I am
very impressed with the men God is calling to seminary today. Some are really
smart, some are excellent athletes,” he said. “They are just regular guys who
are allowing God to do great things with them. Healthy, holy, happy.”
Pavlick has had summer assignments at St. Philip Church in Falls
Church, Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls and St. Ambrose Church in
Annandale.
“The pastors and associates are good priest mentors and the
people are extremely friendly, generous and supportive,” he said. “The prayers
and kindness of the parishioners has been the best thing about being an
Arlington seminarian.”
During his seminary school semesters, he worked with the elderly,
with CCD students at St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg, and with
middle-schoolers at St. Veronica Church in Chantilly.
“The diocese and seminaries give us a good mix of experiences to
prepare us for parish life,” he said. “We seminarians do a lot of good in the
parishes, but I’m looking forward to being able to proclaim the Gospel and
preach the Good News of Jesus Christ upon being ordained a deacon.”
Pavlick will be ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Michael
F. Burbidge at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More June 1.
