Iron Friar Tried Swimming from His Vocation
Iron Friar Tried Swimming from His Vocation
Sometimes the best way to discern your vocation is to hear the stories of others who have also discerned and come to the end with a clear sense of God’s mission for them.
In many ways Fr. Dan Callahan’s vocation story is something of the paradigm of vocations today. As a teenager and young adult, he’d been “educated” out of the Church, and began to pursue what the world calls success. But despite working a great deal, he was never really interested in making money. A great unrest grew in his heart and mind, and for a time the only relief he found was by swimming two miles a day.
Initial Call Then, when he was 27, he had a conversion experience. “This one day when I was swimming, a voice said to me, “Dan, do you still believe I’m in the Holy Eucharist?” I got to the end of the pool and said, “Funny you should ask that! I believe that!” And the voice answered, “Then why are you swimming so religiously and not receiving the Eucharist?” And I said, “That’s a good question.” After that I started going to Mass every day. Almost immediately I felt a call to the priesthood, but I thought that was absurd.”
Pray... a lot! Although he thought a call to the priesthood was absurd for him, it kept gnawing away at his heart. Eventually he started going on vocations’ retreats. “I went for a vocations’ retreat at a Jesuit house, and sat down with one of the priests there. When I told him that I really thought I had a vocation, the priest said, ‘You may very well have a vocation. But you’re a rare bird. I recommend you pray and wait a year.’”
Fr. Dan intensified his prayer life and his discernment. During that year he also went to visit the Franciscan Friars Minor. While there he talked with an old spiritual director, Fr. Fran Began. Fr. Fran told him, “You may have a vocation. But I would suggest you pray… A LOT!” At his recommendation, Fr. Dan began spending an hour every day in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Visit to Graymoor Then during Christmas of 1978, he came to visit Graymoor. “I immediately felt at home,” he said. He came back for a vocations weekend that March. “What struck me most about the friars was how they treated everyone with the same kindness. People weren’t treated specially because of their giftedness or brokenness. They were just treated normal. And I said to myself, ‘I belong here.’”
Intial Call
Then, when he was 27, he had a conversion experience. “This one day when I was swimming, a voice said to me, “Dan, do you still believe I’m in the Holy Eucharist?” I got to the end of the pool and said, “Funny you should ask that! I believe that!” And the voice answered, “Then why are you swimming so religiously and not receiving the Eucharist?” And I said, “That’s a good question.” After that I started going to Mass every day. Almost immediately I felt a call to the priesthood, but I thought that was absurd.”
Pray... a lot!
Although he thought a call to the priesthood was absurd for him, it kept gnawing away at his heart. Eventually he started going on vocations retreats. “I went for a vocations retreat at a Jesuit house, and sat down with one of the priests there. When I told him that I really thought I had a vocation, the priest said, ‘You may very well have a vocation. But you’re a rare bird. I recommend you pray and wait a year.’”
Fr. Dan intensified his prayer life and his discernment. During that year he also went to visit the Franciscan Friars Minor. While there he talked with an old spiritual director, Fr. Fran Began. Fr. Fran told him, “You may have a vocation. But I would suggest you pray… A LOT!” At his recommendation, Fr. Dan began spending an hour every day in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Visit to Graymoor
Then during Christmas of 1978, he came to visit Graymoor. “I immediately felt at home,” he said. He came back for a vocations weekend that March. “What struck me most about the friars was how they treated everyone with the same kindness. People weren’t treated specially because of their giftedness or brokenness. They were just treated normal. And I said to myself, ‘I belong here.’”
Today Fr. Dan is best known as the “Iron Friar.”
As his own effort to raise money for the ministries of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, he participates in Ironman triathlons. For him the triathlons aren’t just a way to raise money, but are also a way to minister to others. He talks to the other participants while they’re running and riding bikes, and he ties in the hardships endured during the triathlon with the hardships endured in the spiritual life, and the great “cloud of witnesses” we have encouraging us along the way. He jokes, “The only time during a triathlon I don’t minister to others is while we’re swimming…”
Our Gift to You
While you continue discerning your vocation, keep reading the stories of others who have discerned, and talking to them about their experiences. And make sure to download our prayer card for vocations! Pray with that every day, and it won’t be long before God shows you His will.
Ready to take a leap of faith?
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are on a mission to bring God’s healing At-One-Ment to a world fractured by sin. If you are a single, Catholic man between 21-40 and you’re ready to take your discernment to the next level, then consider spending several months with us at Our Lady of the Atonement House of Discernment.
©2019 Franciscan Friars of Atonement
©2019 Franciscan Friars of Atonement