Seminarian Bios

Jarlath Quinn

St. Agnes Parish - Atlantic Highlands

What is your name and age?
Jarlath Quinn, 43

What seminary do you attend and what year did you enter the seminary?
I began formation at Immaculate Conception Seminary in the Fall of 2010 (South Orange, N.J.)

Prior to the seminary:
I worked as a union laborer in Monmouth and Ocean Counties on various building projects from new churches to nuclear power plants.

Some of my interests are:
Swimming, hiking and poetry.

The first time I thought about a priestly vocation was:
when I was at school as an altar boy.

How do you pray, what is your prayer life like?
I am still learning how to pray. Seminarians are assigned a Spiritual Director to help with prayer life. At seminary we have morning and evening prayer together and daily mass in our Chapel of the Good Shepherd. We also have Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary. I draw great solace and strength from adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I try to offer up my daily studies and stumbles as my little contribution to the building up of the Kingdom of God. Please know that I will keep you in my prayers.

What excites me about being a priest is:
sharing what I am learning about Jesus Christ and his Church with whomever I may be sent to serve, and ever reminding them that He alone – the Divine Physician - is the one who can heal all our wounds.

What do you enjoy about seminary life?
The Christian fellowship and the inspiration received from the good example of the Priests, Sisters, teachers, staff and seminarians.

If someone is considering a vocation to the priesthood I would tell them:
cast aside any fears and join the pursuit, because ultimately it is God that is pursuing us. Speak to a priest and contact the Vocation Office of the Diocese. Seek out others who are discerning and encourage one another. Lastly and most important: desire to deepen your relationship with Our Lord by spending time with Him in prayer, receiving Him in the Eucharist, and adoring Him in the Blessed Sacrament.

A couple of books on my shelf, CD's I own or songs I have downloaded are:
Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot, and Becoming Human by Jean Vanier. I just downloaded Patrick Kavanagh's poem put to music: Raglan Road (the Luke Kelly version).

A Scripture passage that inspires me is:
from 1st Corinthians chapter 2 verse 9: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him.