A call to the priesthood can be a frightening thought. For
Deacon Nicholas Barnes, who will be ordained to the
priesthood June 8 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in
Arlington, it was quite the opposite.
“(Becoming a priest) was a very peaceful thought that just
came to me and never really left,” Barnes said.
Barnes was born Aug. 26, 1985, and grew up in Denver. After
moving to Virginia halfway through high school, he attended
Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, and it was there
that he first became dedicated to his faith. After graduating
in 2003, Barnes attended the University of Virginia in
Charlottesville, where he majored in history and economics.
While in college, he began thinking about his vocation.
“I began to think about it and discern and pray about it,” he
said.
When it was time to graduate, Barnes already had a consulting
job lined up in Washington. After signing the contract, he
realized he was being called to the seminary, so he talked to
the person who had hired him.
“I didn’t know what his faith background was, but I went in
and told him and his reaction was, ‘God bless you,’ and he
gave me a hug,” Barnes said.
The man told Barnes that he had looked at his resume again
before the meeting and had an impression he should become a
priest. Then he asked to be invited to Barnes’ ordination
Mass.
“That was definitely a confirming moment,” Barnes said.
In 2007, Barnes entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in
Wynnewood, Pa. After two years, Arlington Bishop Paul S.
Loverde asked him to study at the Pontifical North American
College in Rome, where he’s been for the past four years.
During the last four years, Barnes said he’s felt rewarded
knowing that he is on the path God planned for him. He also
has loved studying in Rome – especially being able to witness
the historic events surrounding Pope Benedict XVI’s
resignation and Pope Francis’ election earlier this year.
“I felt really blessed to be here,” Barnes said. “I’ve had a
lot of blessings in the seminary. Watching the pope get
elected was one of the most exciting nights of my life.”
The most challenging part of his time in seminary has been
remaining patient and taking things one step at a time until
he can become a priest. During his year as a transitional
deacon, he has been working with students in Rome as part of
the study abroad program for St. Mary College in South Bend,
Ind. His job included organizing campus ministry events,
Masses, catechetical nights and excursions in and around
Rome.
As he counts down the days until he becomes a priest, Barnes
most looks forward to working in a parish.
“(I’m excited) just to help bring people closer to God, to
share the love that God has with me and with everyone else
and to celebrate the sacraments,” he said.
For other men discerning a call to the priesthood, Barnes
suggests that they have the courage to follow God’s will for
their lives.
“Pursuing this has been really rewarding for me and I’m very
excited to be a priest,” he said. “(Don’t) be afraid of what
God has in store because He definitely has a plan and His
plan is way better than anything we could come up with.”
Bahr can be reached on Twitter @KBahrACH.
