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vocations for the Archdiocese of
Baltimore.
“I started to get emotional. To
say ‘yes’ to the Lord means you have
to give something up, and it can be
painful,” he said. But as he moved
forward into the priesthood, Patalinghug found peace. “God worked best
in the midst of the frustrations. . . . It
didn’t always make sense, but faith is
mysterious. It’s not a math equation.
It requires trust,” he says.
A rewarding life
Now a priest for nine years, Patalinghug starts his days at 5 a.m. with
a holy hour, morning prayers, and
Mass. The role of spiritual father
is one of his favorite aspects of his
vocation. “There’s something satisfying about being a fatherly figure,”
he says. He finds his life humbling,
challenging, and frequented with joy-
ous experiences. At the same time he
notes that the life of a diocesan priest
can make one sometimes feel alone.
“I live a solitary life; therefore
it can feel lonely,” he says. It is the
sacraments and the love of God that
give him the strength to carry out his
daily tasks and face difficulties. “In
all of those challenges,” says Patalinghug, “what is a guy to do but throw
his hands in the air and say, ‘What
now?’ and He says, ‘Trust me.’ ”
That trust brought Patalinghug
to where he is today, and he considers it enough for the future as he
continues to turn over to God his
talents in speaking, dancing, martial
arts, cooking, and perhaps a few
skills as yet undiscovered.
To learn more about Father Leo
Patalinghug’s various projects and to
view his speaking schedule, see www.
gracebeforemeals.com.
VISION 2009
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