USD Magazine Spring 2016

University in Ohio. He hopes to move on to major seminary — an additional four years of theo- logical studies — next year. “I thought I had my life planned out. Then God started molding me, inviting me to follow Him. It’s kind of like a marriage. I’m following and I don’t know where it’s going to lead in the end, but I’m trusting.” “I discerned on my own for two years, but there’s only so much you can do by yourself,” added Matthew Tobin, 21. “Coming here, everything is conducive to your discernment. I love the program. It’s honestly been one of the best experiences of my life.” With numbers dwindling, the challenge facing the diocese — and the entire Church for that matter — is how to disseminate that message, and recruit more men into the program and the priesthood. San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy has made that a top priority; Father Matt says the matter is urgent. “To be sustain- able, we need to be ordaining more priests.” None of the five currently liv- ing at St. Francis can be certain they will continue to ordination. After watching them closely, their advisors will decide wheth- er they should move on to the next, postgraduate step. On the flip side, any one of them might decide that the priesthood isn’t a good fit after all. Toscano says either way, his time at the center will have been worthwhile. “The beauty of this whole experience is that I’m get- ting to learn more about who I am and who I will become.”And even his parents are coming around. “What my mom came to realize is that, although I am her child, before I am hers I am God’s,” he says. “There are moments when my mom is very happy for me, and my dad as well. Especially now that I’m on the soccer team.”