Arthur Nave

Seminary:  Mundelein Seminary

Birthday: April 14th

Home Parish:  St. Mary, Kingman

Favorite Saint:  St. Stephen

Hobbies:  Swimming, hiking, soccer, reading

Favorite Food: 

Enjoy most about being a seminarian: Growth in Holiness

Vocation Story

My awareness of my vocation began subconsciously when I was young.  The idea was planted and nurtured through my family, friends and parish community of St. Mary’s in Kingman , AZ.  When I was barely ten or so, right after receiving the Eucharist for the first time, I was drawn to serving at the Altar of God during Mass.   For several years, I served faithfully and my vocation began to resound within me.  My pastor at the time was Fr. Dennis.  He taught me how to serve and he took an active part in my life as a server.  I still remember the first day that I was to serve; he recognized me, gathered all the ministers of that mass in a circle and we prayed, not just for the success of the mass and thanksgiving but for me, the new kid on the block.  This memory has stuck with me since that first time that I served through today.  During my years in junior high and first year of high school, I had other things on my mind, like any teenage boy:  girls.  Thus, my vocation was put on the back burner.  When I was a sophomore in high school, I learned that I was not immortal and that every day I live is a gift from God to give glory back to God.  I was in a somewhat serious bicycle-truck accident, where I struck the back quarter panel of a truck while trying to cross the street.  Being a teenager, I thought that I was invincible so I was not wearing a helmet.  I came out of the accident with fifteen stitches on my head and new look on life and the world.   After this accident, the calling of the priesthood crept back into my life.

Instead of turning my back on this idea of the priesthood, I decided to look into the priesthood somewhat seriously.  I got the vocations magazine from the parish and read it several times over.  I sent a couple of the postcards in and received some information back on different religious orders.  During the last half of my junior year in high school, I found that the diocesan priesthood was calling clearly and phoenix was worth looking into.  After much discernment and prayer I contacted the then vocation director, Fr. Rob Clements.  When I first wrote to him in the fall of 1998, he wrote back to me and said that I should discern my vocation more and contact him in several years.  What he did not know was how much discerning I had been doing over the last two years.  Thus, I immediately wrote back to Fr. Clements and explained my situation and asked for an application.  I mailed the application back to him around the end of October of 1998.   I worked with him and the process of acceptance the rest of 1998 and the whole spring of 1999. On June 1, 1999, a week after graduating from Kingman High School , I received a letter from Fr. Clemens saying I was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Phoenix.  A day of great joy for me because I knew I was about to embark on a journey that would lead to God’s will in my life.  On July 1, 1999, I received a letter from Mt. Angel Seminary stating I was accepted into there college seminary to begin my studies.  For four years I worked on who I was, becoming comfortable with my faults and my gifts. One assignment that I was given for three years that helped me work on my leadership skills and deepen my understanding of myself and my vocation was the three summers I spent as the Camp Chaplain for Camp Geronimo .  This was an experience that gave me confidence in my vocation.  I graduated from Mt. Angel Seminary in May of 2003, with a BA in philosophy.  During July of 2003 I applied to University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary at the request of Fr. Don Kline and Archbishop Sheehan for my studies in Theology.  I was accepted into Mundelein Seminary in August of 2003.  I am currently in my third year of theology and have about a year and a half left until I am ordained a priest for the Diocese of Phoenix.

           As I look back over my journey, several things stand out.  First, the encouragement given to me from my family, friends and parish.  They would state such things as, “Do you want to be a priest?” or “You would make an excellent priest.”  This is a sign.  If someone that knows you well or your priest uses one of these lines, take them seriously!!!!  Think about it.  Second, I recognized my joy and love of serving the church.  As I served mass, taught religious education, helped others, I found myself, in my element, enjoying myself and just plain joyful.  Thus, when you help out at church are you happy? Do you enjoy helping others?  Can you see yourself being a priest?  Third, I found that the gifts that God has given me dovetail very well into priestly ministry.  What gifts do you have?  God has given us all gifts to share.  What are yours?  How can we build up the body of Christ with these gifts?  In the priesthood?  Finally, God was calling me.  While I ignored him for a while, Like Jonah, I returned to what his will for me was and is.   What is God calling you to?  What is he calling you to in your prayer life? 

            My prayer is that for you who are reading this, you will find encouragement in my story and become more aware of what God is calling you to do with your life.  Whether your service is in the priesthood, religious life, family life or the single life, may God’s will be done and know that God is watching out for you and your vocation.  God Bless! Arthur Nave, Jr.  Seminarian for the Diocese of Phoenix