Martin Coolidge

I grew up in Ft. Wayne, IN. Before my freshman year of HS, my family moved to Elyria, OH, near Cleveland. I have two brothers, one older and one younger. My parents and brothers still live in Elyria. I went to Catholic schools through HS. I attended Iowa State University for college, graduating in 2014 with a degree in Meteorology. While at ISU, I competed as a cross country and track athlete, which was a major reason I came out here for college.

Where and when did your sense of call develop?
My sense of being called to the priesthood developed through college. After overcoming a serious illness after my sophmore year, I had a spiritual renewal. The Catholic faith I practiced was much more alive and I wanted to serve God out of thanksgiving for his goodness to me in recovering my health. I began a daily prayer life, going to daily Mass, and taking Holy Communion to parishioners in the Ames hospital. These all laid the foundation of hearing the call to be a priest a few years later when I was in graduate school at ISU. I experienced the call interiorly in silent prayer after receiving Holy Communion at Sunday Mass, accompanied by a sense of peace which made it clear to me this was the work of God.

Were you invited by others to enter seminary?
I was invited to consider the priesthood by Fr. Jon Seda while I was at ISU. He was the pastor at that time. Although I turned him down multiple times, he saw something in me I did not and kindly kept encouraging me. I also was invited by several patients at the Ames hospital I took Holy Communion to. They encouraged me to think about becoming a priest, which I did not want to do at that moment.

What was your main motivation in pursuing your call?
My main motivation for entering seminary was from desiring to do God's will that I had encountered for my life. I had found great joy in living for him, especially in daily prayer and service to the hospitalized. It brought me great joy to bring Christ in Holy Communion to people in their suffering and to pray with them. I came to recognize this as a deeply priestly ministry. I was motivated to provide the Eucharist for the people of God and intercede for them in prayer.

Who were/are your biggest influencers?
The biggest influences in my life have been my family and Fr. Jon Seda. My parents faithfully witnessed to a life of prayer and service to the Church as I grew up. This definitely formed me well to love my faith and seek God's will. They were always open to one of us brothers becoming a priest. Fr. Jon was the first one to invite and encourage me to join seminary and think about the priesthood. He has been an important figure in my entire time of seminary to be formed closer to Jesus Christ.

What advice would you give to a man considering the priesthood/seminary?
My advice to men considering the priesthood is to form a relationship of trust with Jesus in prayer. Tell him everything and seek his grace everyday. Seminary is a time to fall deeply in love with Jesus and his Church, which will involve joys, blessings, sorrows, and sacrifices. It is in this trusting relationship with Jesus that you will realize his immense love for you will lead to do his will, and your love for him will increase to draw you to be in union with his will.