Deacon Greg Lambert

Introduction/Tell things about you, your family, your Catholic journey
My name is Greg Lambert and I have been living and serving here in the great
state of Iowa since 2020. Even though I’m a transplant, I’ve been blessed to call Iowa
my home due to the family I have in the area. Growing up the youngest of four siblings, I
probably didn't have the upbringing of one who would gravitate to the priesthood. I was
the youngest child of fallen away Catholics in a Hispanic household. Furthermore, I grew
up practicing the religion of Buddhism, often attending meetings with my mother, and
meditating with our family. Sometimes I still get questions about this part of my story but
in reality, I don't regret my introduction to organized religion. In a lot of ways, this is how
I first learned to pray.

Where/when did your sense of call develop?
After my mother decided to turn back toward the Church and have her children
baptized, everything was different in the household. We started going to Mass and
learning the scriptures. Still, I was looking for a purpose of what it meant to be Catholic.
What is the point of pouring all one’s time into religion? What do I get out of it, you know?

My freshman year of high school I got invited to first my parish youth group event
and never looked back. A group of people similar in age to me, with a fire for their faith
was instrumental in the building of my own faith life. All of us grew in our faith together,
and made memories doing it. I quickly became a leader within the group, and noticed a
dormant potential not yet realized. It was this group that would introduce the word
“vocation” to me.

Were you invited by others to enter seminary?
A number of seminarians I met in high school encouraged me to apply. However, what
mattered the most to me was the support of my home parish, as well as my late pastor.
I decided to enter the seminary after high school. I was sure I was being called to the
priesthood, but still carried a fair amount of nervousness about the ordeal. The support I
received from the parish was astronomical. That support put a face to the universal
Church praying for her ministers. It made me ask the question, “If these thousands of
people pray for me, how much more do the saints pray for us?”

What was your main motivation in pursuing your call?
The reality of formation is an interesting one. The Church refers to the journey to
become a priest as “priestly formation”. Many believe that if they take the plunge and
attend the seminary, that God will erase parts of their personality. Admittedly, I had a
fear that if continued on the path of priestly formation that God would erase who I am.

The truth is our lives in priestly formation are much like landscapers trimming a giant
hedge. For the landscaper, the point isn't to lop off entire sides of the hedge. This
destroys the plant and ultimately does not do the hedge any justice to what it could be.
Instead, “priestly formation” is the careful trimming of the hedge. Priestly formation cuts
the excess off the hedge so it can shine through to its fullest potential.  I give this example to say that nothing motivates me to become a priest other  than the reality that I am being formed every day, and every day I am better than what I once was. God doesn't need to prove to me that he loves me, but yet he still does and that's more than enough for me.

Who were/are your biggest influences?
My biggest influences came from both positive and negative experiences. I have met
amazing priests who have inspired me to go deeper into my faith, push myself when it
comes to communicating, and to truly be nourished by the scriptures in search of
truth. Amongst all the positive experiences, I've had negative experiences with priests
as well. This is to say both inspire me to be generous in the giving of myself to this
call. God does not deserve a fraction of us, he requires our whole being. If one truly
loves something, you will put every ounce of who you are into fighting for its fruition.

What advice would you give other men who are discerning their call?
Coming from a bigger city, finding community is a serious factor on how
comfortable one can be in an area. I quickly become enamored with how tightly Iowans
stick together. The people of these small towns know each other and defend their
community with the ferocity of fighting for a family member. This distinct characteristic of
Iowa is something that endeared me to the area and has pushed me to come out of my
comfort zone, while at the same time expanding my horizons.
My advice to anyone discerning God’s call to the priesthood is to have people
close to you that can help you stay grounded. You’re not applying to an everyday field.
There is a lot that comes with this endeavor and it’s easy to get overwhelmed in just the
application process, so you should have a few good friends that know you well. You don’t
need a lot, just a few. Those people are pivotal in keeping you grounded throughout this
process. The point of this call to ascend to the altar, but also be able to be amongst the
people. God does not wish to cut us off from reality, no matter what the vocation is.