About the Salesians / Brother Adam Dupre

I am Adam Dupre and I never really thought about the possibility of being a priest until I was a senior in high school. My grandmother had just been diagnosed with cancer. I went to the hospital to visit her. I skipped school. My mom was at the hospital when I arrived.

My mother was talking to the chaplain there. I hadn't said a word when the priest turned to me and said, "If you don't become a priest…blah, blah

That same night while bussing tables at a local restaurant, a retired bishop came in for dinner. With out me saying anything more than ‘hello’ to him, he said "Son, I feel a strong vibe coming from you, have you ever given the priesthood a thought?" I told him that he was the second priest to say something to me that very day.

Around that time, the Vocations Director for my diocese came to my parish for a vocations talk.  After he finished his talk, I wanted to know more. The mystery of it all was astounding. During Consecration, I felt a cold chill, it was 90 outside. I took it to be a sign.

The Vocations Director and I met for lunch. I visited the seminary. I began the application process for the Diocese of Providence, in Rhode Island. I had almost finished with the application process when reality set in - I come from a big family; I have 3 biological brothers (4 if you include me) and two stepsisters. If I became a diocesan priest, I would be alone in the rectory. I wanted something a little more communal.

So, I put my name in to a religious order database on the internet. Over the next couple of weeks I began getting informational packets from the Franciscans, the Benedictines, and of course the Salesians. They had all given me a form letter welcoming me to the discernment process. They all said that they would like me to come and visit their community of seminarians. The Salesian letter stood out though. It was hand written. It was a personal letter. I gave it more interest than the others because someone took the time to write it rather than just inserting my name into a blank line.

So, I visited the Community in New Jersey. I loved it. From the time that I had walked in the door I felt like I was home. The people there were very nice and welcoming. They made my visit very enjoyable. I got to partake in a retreat to high school aged persons. I also got to play soccer with the Brothers. I made another trip in February. It was just as good as the first. I decided to take the application home with me to pray about. But I filled it out that night and handed it in the next morning before I left to go back to my house.

Now it was a waiting game. They told me I would know by Easter if the Provincial would accept me or not. So on Holy Saturday, I got my acceptance phone call. It came from the Vocations Director.

The part of that phone call is the most vivid memory forever for the fact that I was visiting my grandfather. It was through him and my grandmother that I discerned I had a vocation. So it was bitter sweet to find out in front of him. He was the first one to know.