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From Bowling Green to Belize to discern
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June 12, 2024Deacon Joseph Spears has always been active in his Catholic faith. The youngest of six siblings from Bowling Green, Kentucky, he went to college and graduated in history when he was wondering what would come next. It turned out to be going to Belize on a mission of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.
It was during his sophomore year that Deacon Joseph first encountered the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). Two friends invited him on a mission trip to Belize, an experience that left a lasting impression. After his graduation, while on the Camino de Santiago, he met a priest familiar with the SOLT mission in Belize who encouraged him to return to the Central American country.
After one year, he considered becoming a priest and contacted a couple of dioceses, “but I never heard back from them… Eventually, a SOLT priest suggested returning to Belize, this time discerning my vocation.”
This second year was decisive for him. Deacon Joseph says, “I had met some very inspiring religious or priests before, but I didn’t feel comfortable around them. I felt very comfortable with others, but they weren’t necessarily inspiring to me… With the SOLT, I felt a balance: they were accessible, I could envision myself living alongside them, but they also inspired me to strive for holiness.”
After starting formation in Belize, he went to Texas for further formation, then to Detroit for his seminary studies. His family was surprised, “but they didn’t know how serious it was until I invited them to my first profession in the community.”
Now, he is excited to be ordained by Bishop Michael Mulvey on Saturday, June 15, at 10 am in Corpus Christi Cathedral—and his whole family will be there, too. After his ordination, he will receive his first assignment from the community: “I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me.”
