By Gia Myers • Posted October 1, 2024

Father David O’Brien, the new vocation director in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia since last June, always knew the Catholic faith would be a part of his life. As a high school senior, he hadn’t expected the life path God would reveal to him.

He had “a simple plan” back then, which included getting into a good college, pursuing a career in engineering, and “having a big family.” Yet in his priestly ministry, he’s found himself a true spiritual father, guiding and encouraging many young Catholics.

In his new archdiocesan role, Father O’Brien is the contact person to help young men discern a decision to study for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Gwynedd.

His goal is to get as many men into the seminary as possible, “but I want them to experience the joy, the excitement, and the freedom that comes with that,” he said.

Of his own time in the seminary, Father O’Brien said, “I always felt encouraged. I never felt pressured. I want men to experience that same reality.”

Father O’Brien was ordained to the priesthood in May 2019. His first priestly assignment was at Saint Jude Parish in Chalfont.

He later served as school chaplain at Lansdale Catholic High School and then also at Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, providing spiritual guidance to numerous teenagers.

During this time he resided at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown, where he enjoyed celebrating Mass on the weekends for the parish community.

He was raised in a large Irish Catholic family in Saint Peter Parish in West Brandywine, Chester County, and attended Catholic schools including Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, from which he graduated in 2010.

Looking back on his young life as the second oldest of seven children, Father O’Brien said he enjoyed playing sports including soccer, basketball, and track. He was an altar server at his home parish and enjoyed spending time with his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

He credits his parents for his strong faith, which they passed onto him through their example of “loving the Church and loving the faith.” Attending Mass, praying the rosary and going to confession were a regular part of family life.

It was during his senior year at Bishop Shanahan that Father O’Brien first considered the possibility of the priesthood.

As a gifted student in math and statistics, a member of the Student Council and National Honor Society, he applied to and was accepted by 10 colleges.

While discerning which offer to accept, he attended Eucharistic Adoration to pray for guidance in his decision making. In the silence of prayer, he heard God offer him another option: the priesthood.

The young man entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary right after high school graduation, taking things “one year at a time” until he eventually realized that “this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Father O’Brien said a turning point was in his fifth year at the seminary, when he participated in a 30-day poverty immersion experience, helping the poor and homeless with the Salesians of Don Bosco in Port Chester, New York, and also when he followed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

He found these experiences “gave him peace of mind and peace of heart” and confirmed for him that he could be content living a priestly vocation.

“It was a truth I took time to accept,” he said.

In his new role as vocation director, he plans to visit many high schools, colleges and parishes around the archdiocese. He desires “to be a good example of the priesthood” and to help men from this local Church view the vocation to priesthood as a viable option.

Father O’Brien advises any young man who feels he may have a calling to the priesthood to visit the Vocation Office website or pick up the phone and call him at 610-667-5778.

The priest also suggests building a strong prayer life through the sacraments, including attending Mass as often as possible, plus confession and Eucharistic Adoration, and praying the rosary.

Additionally, he recommends reading the book, “To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood” by Father Brett A. Brannen.

“The seminary is a wonderful place to discern and be open to what God wants to do in your life,” he said.

Father O’Brien asks the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to pray for him in his new role of promoting vocations to priesthood.