Brief Autobiography by Brother Robert DeLong, M.S.F.

Greetings to all who see these words! I pray that God will richly bless all of you. Let me introduce myself to you, I am Br. Robert, a Missionary of The Holy Family and a student for the priesthood, a seminarian. I am what is referred to as a “delayed” or “second career vocation.” I entered the Congregation of the Missionaries of The Holy Family at a late age (50!) and have been a professed religious brother for eight years. I would like to tell you how this came to be.

I am a convert to Roman Catholicism, raised as an Evangelical Protestant. I converted at the age of 25. I come from a family of eight of whom I am the only Catholic, but by the grace of God enjoy the love and support of my whole family. I often tell folks that my mother and sister are the greatest supporters of the Missionaries of The Holy Family that I know. They are thrilled that I have decided to become a priest! They are also a great source of vocation information for us in their area, promoting us at every opportunity. I am a product of the Chicago Public School system and have been blessed to have had the opportunity to go to some good institutions of higher education complements of the GI Bill.

After high school I enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Viet Nam War as a Medic. After I was discharged from the army I returned to school to study nursing. I was, until two years ago, a Registered Nurse, for over 30 years. It was while I was in college that I converted to Catholicism. I guess I have always known that I had a call to be in a formal ministry, but having been raised as a Protestant I had always assumed that it would be through that direction. I had been familiar with the Catholic faith all my life as my cousins were Catholic and when they visited us or I visited them I attended Mass with them. There was something about that that struck a special note within me.

After my conversion I became acquainted with the Capuchin Franciscans and was attracted to the Franciscan Spirituality. I was an associate for the rest of my college career and after graduation entered their formation house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Then I “chickened out” and left before going any further. In effect I ran away. Looking back now I can see that that was not where I was supposed to be. I continued to practice my profession for the next twenty years in various locations and aspects of the nursing profession. This I think was by design by the Holy Spirit, because I have used the experiences I gained every day since then. There was, however, always something missing! For one thing, I had stopped going to church.

In 1995 I moved back to San Antonio, Texas. I had lived here in the 1960’s when I was sent to Ft. Sam Houston for medical training. I was working with people with AIDS, at a time when there still wasn’t much hope and that diagnosis still pretty much meant a death sentence. I had, fortunately returned to the Church. The old “call” was still there. I decided to try to get a degree in theology and the experience to possibly become a chaplain so that I could better minister to my patients. I registered at the Oblate School of Theology for the next semester and about the same time I began to seriously reconsider religious life. I had no idea what to do about that so I visited the Archdiocesan Vocation office; that changed my life forever! I met a wonderful religious sister there, a sister of the Holy Spirit, Sr. Mary Fagan. She introduced me to the Missionaries of The Holy Family. I didn’t even know they existed, AND they were founded for people like me, a later vocation. She remains a dear friend and I am forever grateful to her, and The Holy Spirit, for guiding me to this great congregation.

I took my first vows in 2000 and have since taken my Perpetual Vows; committed for life! After serving the Province for three years as Vocation Director I requested, and received, permission to enter seminary to study for the priesthood. In my heart of hearts though, I will always be “Brother Robert.” Let this be a warning: NEVER say never! I said I would never become a priest, but Our Dear Lord had other plans for me. Strangely enough everybody around me saw me as a priest, but I couldn’t see it. No pressure was ever exerted on me, my superiors and confreres let me come to my own decision to answer that call, as it should be. I can say, though, that there was rejoicing when I finally said yes to Him. I am now a seminarian studying for the priesthood, not an easy task at sixty years of age. I am doing exceptionally well for a person like me, and for this I am thankful to all those who pray for me and the Holy Spirit, without whom I would never make it. I continue on the way to the priesthood and ask all to continue to pray for me. You are the ones who will make me a priest and that I will never forget.

God Bless You All!