MERIDIAN, Miss. — When Nick Adam graduated from college with a degree in journalism, his ultimate dream was to become a sportscaster on ESPN.

That dream became just a memory Friday night as Adam took his next step to becoming a Catholic priest through his ordination at Saint Patrick Church in Meridian, Mississippi, as a transitional deacon.

Upon college graduation from the University of Alabama, Adam moved to Meridian in 2008 to work at are ABC affiliate WTOK. It was while working at the television station that Adam, then 21, said he felt the call to explore the promise to become a Catholic priest.

“I really got involved in my parish at St. Patrick and St. Joseph,” he said. “I grew up Catholic, but I didn’t really practice my faith even though it had always been part of my life. The Lord really spoke to me while in Meridian, and opened my eyes to what God was capable of doing in my life.”

After nearly five years of working at the television station, Adam said he began to seriously consider a career change – even though he loved his job. There were three major groups he said influenced his decision – the people of the parish; his pastor Father Frank Cosgrove, who is now retired; and John Johnson, his boss at WTOK.

“The people of the parish were such wonderful examples of what a Christian life looks like. I had never really seen great examples like that,” Adam said. “Father Cosgrove showed me priests are happy and what kind of good they can do, and John Johnson, even though he was not Catholic, was a sounding board. We had conversations about morality and living a good Christian life, that was a huge thing for me. This all goes back to Meridian being the special place God put me, to form me into the person he wanted me to be.”

Adam has spent the last 4 1/2 years preparing to be a priest. He attended Saint Joseph Seminary College and is currently studying at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

On Friday night, Adam was ordained to the Holy Order of Deacon at St. Patrick.

The Bishop of Jackson, the Most Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz, presided over the imposition of hands. At the ceremony, Adam was given the book of the Gospels as symbolic of that ministry. He then made three promises – celibacy, obedience to the Bishop, and simplicity of life.

“The Catholic Church believes that in celibacy we are visible signs to people of what their ultimate destiny is,” Adam said on Thursday. “All of our destinies are union with God. Hopefully as priests, by living a life of voluntary celibacy, we can show that to the world.

“A promise of constant prayer, which is the only way to stay true to the promises – in constant communication with the Lord. And obedience to my Bishop. We see him as our chief shepherd. I will go where he asks me to go and serve the church the way he asks me to serve it.”

Future plans

Adam will finish the semester in New Orleans, then in June, he will start an assignment at St. Richard parish in Jackson, Mississippi. Starting in May, he will spend six months ministering in that parish under supervision. When finished there, he will go back to the seminary in New Orleans and take his comprehensive exams for his masters in divinity. He will also have some church administration classes. Adam will then divide his time between the parish in Jackson and the seminary in New Orleans. In 2018, he will be ordained as a priest.

“This will be a good experience to get right in the ministry, at St. Richard,” Adam said. “I will be preaching on Sundays, baptizing, performing weddings and doing funerals. Ultimately the deacon is supposed to be a role of service to the church, so in whatever way I can be of service to the people that’s what my job is going to be.”

Rev. Matthew Simmons, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church described Adam as a genuine person who is concerned with the needs of everyone he meets, saying he is very friendly, outgoing, and has a good level of confidence honed by being in front of the television camera.

“Nick’s ability to be present to the person to whom he’s talking is truly special these days in a day when we are thinking about our phones often,” Simmons said. “You always feel he is there with you and focused. That is something very special.”

No doubt

Adam said he was never torn to change his career.

“I would never have picked it 10 years ago, but I felt that calling and thank God it never wavered,” Adam said. “Of course, you see married life as something so beautiful, and I can see that. I have four sisters, a brother and they are all married with children.”

Adam said there were moments when he thought about the things he might be giving up to pursue his high calling.

“But, there are so much more moments of, this is what I am gaining, and this is what the Lord wants for me,” Adam said. “So, ultimately all of us are seeking to do God’s will, and when we do that he gives us what we need to make it happen. I have always felt excited about that.”

Adam said his journey to priesthood has also brought his family closer. He will even begin his ministry this week by baptizing two of his family members, a niece and a nephew.

“At first they didn’t know what to say, but it has been a beautiful growth in what this is for me, and what it means for them too,” Adam said. “We have grown closer because they have gotten to know this part of me, and I’ve been able to share that with them, it’s been really good.”

Owens writes for the Meridian, Mississippi Star.