Jose Lim, 26, was raised in Paramus, New Jersey.  He first thought about the priesthood in the fifth grade, but became more drawn to religious life as an undergraduate at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.  He became very involved in the various ministries offered at the Catholic Center at Rutgers. After graduating with a BSN in Nursing in 2014, Jose joined the Brotherhood of Hope as a prospective candidate and ministered in the Campus Ministry program at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fl.  While he thoroughly enjoyed that ministry, Jose felt even more prayerfully and ministerially drawn to the sacramental life of the Church and he began to feel the call to diocesan priesthood.   After returning home to New Jersey, Jose worked as a cardiac nurse at Overlook Hospital while he prayerfully discerned the diocesan priesthood over the past year.  During that time, he moved into the St. John Vianney House of Discernment in Highland Park to further nurture his call to priesthood.  Over the summer, Jose was accepted as a seminarian and has been assigned to Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall for priestly formation.  Reflecting on his experiences as a cardiac nurse and his journey of discernment, Jose notes, “I hope that I can serve Christ to the best of my abilities in whatever capacity He calls me, and, if it truly be towards the priesthood, I can then serve those who may be suffering in physical or spiritual ways to bring them the saving sacraments and the Gospel message.”
      May we all fervently pray that at least one young man from our Catholic Center community have the courage to join him next year for formation to the diocesan priesthood for our Diocese of Metuchen.  600,000 Catholics….19 seminarians…..will you join him?