Nicolas Twaalfhoven

Home Parish: Our Lady Star of the Sea Marblehead
Seminary: St. John Seminary, Brighton
High-School: St. John’s Prep. Danvers
College: Boston College
Hobbies: Music, Sailing, Soccer

When was the first time you thought of priesthood?

Sophomore year of college - through prayer, conversations with friends and priests. When I considered myself as a priest, I felt a great interior freedom.

What were major Catholic activities you participated in prior to the Seminary?

World Youth Day - Cologne, 2005. Archdiocese of Boston Discernment Retreat - February, 2006.

What is your favorite Scripture passage? Why?

"He must increase; I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). In this passage, St John the Baptist gives voice to the essential motive of the truly Christian life - only through allowing Christ to move every thought and action of our daily life do we become pure instruments of God's love.

Who influenced/inspired you to priesthood? Please Explain.

Friends and priests in College who took seriously Pope John Paul II's call to holiness and who inspired me to seek the interior freedom that comes only when we do what God wills.

What would you say to a young man who thinks he may have a vocation?

Pray, talk to faithful priests and men who are committed to serving the Church, talk to a spiritual director, go on a retreat.

Please tell us, what are some of the most important parts of discernment?

Our first and most basic task should always be to live a holy and virtuous life - after that, when we have begun to look to God (not ourselves) for happiness, He will begin gently to call us in a particular direction.

Is Seminary formation what you thought it would be?

I feel very blessed to have come to a place in which so many men are so dedicated to following the Lord. Vocations are not born in isolation - geniune Christian friendships are vital for a seminarian, and they can help a man to come to know God's will.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I enjoy sailing.

What activities would you recommend in order to foster a culture of vocations.

Men and women need to be convinced that God is Love, and they need to know and experience this love firsthand before they can support men who decide to become instrument's of God's love. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is essential to a culture which fosters vocations, because it is here that man can focus his entire being on the source of love.

Did anyone invite you to consider priesthood? Please explain.

One friend at college - to whom I am very much indebted - always prodded me with the question of whether I wanted to be a priest.

What influence (if any) has Pope John Paul II had on your vocation?

His "universal call to holiness," especially in the last few months, influenced me greatly. Today, I am convinced that the defining words of his pontificate - "Be not afraid!" - are prophetic for our age. In following Christ, we have nothing to be afraid of - this is something that I must remind myself of constantly.

How did you come to know Jesus Christ?

Through prayer, through the example of holy Christians in my life.

What were the spiritual events or activities that helped you develop and shape your personal relationship with Christ and His Church?

Prayer, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, daily Mass (at Boston College) - this routine is essential; when we become immersed in the sacraments and the liturgical life of the Church, we are open to every grace that God wishes for us.

What signs led you to believe that God was calling you to be a priest?

Prayer, spiritual conversations with friends - I realized that I was intensely interested in the "things of God" (i.e. Scripture, the Sacraments). Also, when I imagined myself as a priest, I felt great interior freedom. It made sense, both to myself and to my friends - suddenly, I felt a real confidence, which had been lacking before I decided to apply to the seminary.

Describe the importance of prayer in your life?

It is essential - if we don't pray, we lose the ability to come before God with childlike trust and confidence. Only through loving abandonment of every facet of our lives to Him are we able to discern God's will in our lives.

What are some of your favorite and most imprtant spiritual readings/books/passages?

The Gospels, "The Soul of the Apostolate" (by Chautard, OCR), Mary's "Magnificat."

What is your day like in the seminary?

The day is full. We start with morning prayer at 7am, then we have Mass at 7:30am. We have class in the morning until noon. Some students have an elective class in the afternoon. We have Adoration between 5-6pm. Some days we have human and spiritual formation in the evening. The rest of the time is spent in reading and writing papers.

Through the Cardinal, God is calling you personally to help rebuild his Church. How must the priest respond to this mandate today?

He must recognize the true need for Christ in the People of God - specifically, in the people of Boston. Every day, he must realize that God is preparing him to be an instrument of Love - and so, he must be firmly convinced (through personal experience) of the saving power of God's love.

How does the priest best follow in the footsteps of the apostles?

By following Christ, the Servant and Master of the Apostles. In reading Scripture, we realize that the Apostles became true disciples of Christ only when they turned their entire lives over to Him. In turn, the priest today must turn his entire being over to Christ, who will make us effective preachers of the Gospel of Life.