PORTLAND

The winding path to answering God’s call began for Bath native Patrick Finn in fifth grade.

“That was the first time I remember considering following a vocation to the priesthood,” he said. “I began to be more interested in the Mass, and started following the action of the Mass more closely. God’s timing is always the best. I’ve seen how he’s brought me through each stage of life toward something better.”

On Sunday, Oct. 8, Finn will advance into a new stage when he is ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Robert P. Deeley at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. The Mass of Ordination will begin at 10 a.m., and all are welcome to attend.

The designation of “transitional deacon” indicates that although Finn will always be a deacon by virtue of his ordination, the expectation is that he will one day be ordained to the priesthood.

“After so many years of preparation, I’m so excited for God to equip me sacramentally for the sacred ministry he’s been preparing me for up to this point. It can feel like it’s taken me a long time, but it’s totally in God’s providence,” said Finn.

The many years of preparation have been a blessed journey for Finn, who has always embraced God’s plan for him, despite moments of uncertainty along the way. The path to Oct. 8 can be traced to his sophomore year at Morse High School, when he was already active as a reader at St. Mary Church in Bath.

“Being involved in parish and diocesan youth ministry gave me a good foundation for Christian community, but the YOUTH 2000 retreat and the Steubenville East summer youth conference did a lot to give me a lively sacramental faith in Christ and his Church,” said Finn. “The Lord just deepened his call on my heart from there.”

While in college at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, Finn said it became clear that priestly ministry is what God was calling him to do.

“At first, I figured that would mean going back to Maine, but during my junior year, the Lord made it clear that I should pursue religious life with the Franciscans who minister there at the university,” he said.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theology, Finn entered religious formation with the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular at their motherhouse in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Upon first profession of vows in 2008, he began priestly formation in Washington, D.C., earning a master of divinity degree from The Catholic University of America in 2012. During his time with the friars, he also worked at a small Catholic elementary school in Loretto, worked with a fraternity of Secular Franciscans and a group for people with special needs and their families, served at an inner-city parish in Maryland, completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education in Florida and lived among the Yankton Sioux in South Dakota.

“I had so many awesome opportunities as a friar and I learned and experienced so much that I never could have gotten elsewhere,” said Finn. “But God made it clear that this particular community wasn’t where I needed to be.”

Finn left the Franciscans prior to making his solemn vows in 2012. He thought about what he was truly passionate about and the process led him to serving as the communications director for the Black and Indian Mission Office in Washington, D.C., founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1884.

“This ministry took me to Catholic missions among several different Native American and African-American communities across the country,” he said. “I gathered stories and photos to promote these unique mission fields on a national level.”

After just over a year as communications director, a new opportunity presented itself to Finn — one that he could not turn down.

“After 11 years away from Maine, I was hired as the director of faith formation at Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston,” he said. “I served there from 2013 to 2015, designing evangelistic and catechetical programming for kids spanning from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. We took youth to the March for Life, Steubenville East, the high school discernment retreats and the Journey retreat. It was an awesome time of ‘paying forward’ the blessings I received years earlier.”

Living back home and being surrounded by several longtime priest friends put Finn where he felt he needed to be: back on the path to the priesthood.

“Father Nathan March mentioned one strong common bond among all the priests of the Diocese of Portland. They have an almost visceral connection to the people and place of Maine. That really got me thinking that I had that, and had for a long time. I finally completed my application to the diocese, and the Lord’s taken it from there.”

In May, Finn completed two additional years of theological study at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He has lived in Bar Harbor since June, serving in the three parishes, six churches and five summer chapels in the Hancock County Catholic communities.

His upcoming ordination inspires gratitude, a certainty that he is where he is meant to be, and a special pride, he said.

“I know a good number of family members will be there, and a few folks from the choir at St. Mary in Bath will join the Cathedral choir in singing for the Mass,” he said. “A good friend from my Franciscan days, Father Athanasius Fornwalt, FHS, will vest me in the deacon’s stole and dalmatic. I think a few from the Hancock County parishes and some from parishes I’ve previously served in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Sanford, and Lewiston will be there too. It’ll be excellent, and quite humbling, to see everyone there.”

He never lost faith that the winding path would have a fulfilling destination, a lesson he offers to others who are deciding what to do with their lives.

“Just give your life completely to Jesus and see where he brings you,” Finn said. “I have never been bored. My life has been a great adventure. It hasn’t always been easy, but I can only be grateful to the Lord for everything.”