C
atholic
Herald
DIOCESE OF SUPERIOR
www.superiorcatholicherald.org Vol 151/Edition 21, 12 Pages Nov. 11, 2021
JENNY SNARSKI
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF JSNARSKI@CATHOLICDOS.ORG
E
ach and every vocational call is unique and individual as is the path one fol- lows in responding to Gods invitation. Hudson native Julian Druffner, a third-year theology student, is one of the growing group of seminarians, but his path to Superior is one-of-a-kind. The second of seven children, he was raised by parents who kept them actively in- volved in faith formation, youth retreats, al- tar serving, mission trips and general parish life. As a teen, Druffner spent a lot of time on the basketball court, in the woodshop, fishing
To Superior through South Bend
Julian Druffner received admission to candidacy for Holy Orders at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in late September. Bishop James P. Powers celebrated the Mass with diocesan voca- tions director Fr. Thomas Thompson and associate director Fr. Patrick McCo- nnell, among concele- brating priests. Druffner's parents, Mark and Molly Druffner, were also present as were the five other dioc- esan seminarians assisting in the liturgy as acolytes and lector. (Submitted photo)
See DRUFFNER, Page 9
JENNY SNARSKI
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF JSNARSKI@CATHOLICDOS.ORG
E
very priests vocation sto- ry is personal and unre- peatable. For Fr. Francis Adoboli, the Diocese of Supe- rior's first international priest from Africa (Diocese of Accra, Ghana), the priesthood was love at first sight - although it took many years and mysterious moments for the call to fully reveal itself. The fifth of seven children, he said the Adobolis were not a church-going family early on. Fr. Francis does remember that his father never missed the Good Friday service, as it was culturally connected with mourning loved ones. Asked how he discovered his priestly vocation in a family that didn't practice religion, he reflected, That is the mystery of it all When I look back, I attribute so many things to God. This includes the inspira- tion his mother had just before Francis started basic, or ele- mentary school. The Adobolis lived in a compound house, or complex of attached homes. On Sundays, many did not go to church. Those who did attended a variety of denominations. He vividly recalled the day his mother told the children they would be going to church, even though she was not. After getting them ready, her instruc- tions were to follow their neigh- bor, Mr. Osei, and his family to the church they attended. While Fr. Francis never discovered why she had singled out Mr. Osei or if she had even known what church he attend- ed, he sees providence was clearly at work. Even though he didnt discover it was Catholic until enrolled at the churchs school, the impression that first Mass made on the boy was its own kind of knowing. I saw a white man who was in a high place. He wore white garments, and I didn't under- stand the language, Fr. Francis remembered. I saw smoke in the church, and that smoke was more beautiful than the smoke coming from my mothers kitchen, he added acknowledg- ing that without experiencing an outdoor African kitchen, it would be dicult to capture the striking impression made by the solemn sweet-smelling church smoke. The boy made his own im- pression when he was baptized at the age of 10. In Ghana, children are usually named for the day they were born or after a family member. From the time he started following the Oseis to church and heard one of their children called Francis, the name came and lived in my heart, the priest revealed. I told myself, when I am baptized, that's the name I will use, and so it was. On the day of his baptism, he told the priest and his parents that from then on his name would be Francis. High school was not an assumed progression for the Adoboli children. A student had to pass a common entrance exam and then pay for the sec- ondary education. Only one was within reach for the fifth child of a working family. Francis' brothers attended primary school but then needed to work to help the family; his only sister had been unable to attend even primary school, just like their parents, Fr. Francis explained. The first year he took the exam he did pass, but his parents unfortunately could not come up with the funds. He wanted to try a second time, but Francis knew more than his ac- ademic efforts would be needed. He enlisted the Blessed Virgin Mary's help, daily visiting the church and praying the rosary. When Francis received very, very high marks on the exam, he shed both tears of joy - that God had listened to his prayers - and tears of sadness that, like the previous year, he might not be able to go. Francis learned his exam performance qualified for a scholarship, but those were only awarded to registered students and the initial fees would still present a challenge. Fran- cis parents were extremely pleased, but the young man, not seeing how funds could be found, decided to turn down the scholarship. It wasnt until he had walked
African priest shares ministry, gifts in Webster
Fr. Francis Adoboli is pictured with the Council of Catholic Women members of St. John's Church in Webster on the occasion of his 30th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on July 13. Two weeks into his American assignment, the women surprised their new priest with a celebration. (Submitted photo)
See FR. FRANCIS, Page 5
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