[Fr. Michel entered military service in 1984. He was initially assigned to AF Security Police. In 1990, he was transferred to Scott AFB to work in communications as a programmer and later as a network administrator. While on assignment at Scott AFB, he earned a B.S. degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from McKendree College. In 1995 he received his commission as an officer, and was detailed to the Defense Information Security Agency at the Pentagon. He resigned his commission in 1998. Here he explains how he became interested in the Fathers of Mercy.-Editor’s Note]

"If you feel at home in a community, then it is possible that God is calling you to that community." This was the advice given to me by one of the first brothers I met at the Generalate of the Fathers of Mercy in South Union, Kentucky, when I visited there back in 1997.

Father Michel Corriveau as an Air Force officer in 1995

Each of us who has a vocation to the priesthood and religious life is called in his own particular way. Some feel a desire to serve God and to dedicate their whole lives to His service from a very early age. This desire is with them for as long as they can remember and grows stronger and clearer with time. God tugs at their hearts, until they finally decide to pursue their vocation by applying to a seminary or a religious community.

But that is not the way God's call came to me. Growing up in a military family, I always planned to "follow in Dad's footsteps" and join the Air Force. That is what I did at the age of 20. After eleven years in the Air Force, my military career was exactly where I wanted it to be, and I had the remainder of my service years all figured out up to retirement. Meanwhile, God waited quietly throughout these eleven years without informing me of the change in direction He planned. Never having consulted with God about my plans, I was not prepared for a completely new direction. Yet, with my military career half spent and on the "downhill side," I felt God calling me to be a priest. The thought came very suddenly and quite overwhelmed me. Obviously, this was not in my plans.

I spent some time praying about my vocation and I kept asking God, "Are you sure you want me?" About two months later, after finishing some training and while on my way to my next duty assignment, I attended a Mass off base. I had never met the celebrating priest before, but at communion he asked to see me after Mass. When Mass was over, he met me outside the Church and told me: "I try to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, especially during Mass, what to say when I am preaching, and so on. Today I kept getting the notion to tell you to become a priest. A voice inside kept saying: 'tell that young man to become a priest.'" Apparently, God was not taking any chances with me and wanted to make sure I got the message. "You did not choose me, but I chose you," Jesus tells us in St. John's Gospel.

God was also guiding my search for a religious community. I discovered by chance a book listing many religious communities in the United States. I read carefully every listing and the only one that stood out among all the others was the listing for the Fathers of Mercy. Bringing God's mercy to people through preaching parish missions and through the Sacrament of Confession seemed to be what God was calling me to do. In addition to their apostolate, one phrase from the listing kept coming to mind. The Fathers of Mercy are "loyal to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church." One would hope that this could be said of every Catholic religious congregation. Nonetheless, I found its prominent position at the top of the listing to be reassuring.

I visited the Fathers of Mercy twice in 1997. After the first visit I felt "at home" in the community, and I knew I was called to be a Father of Mercy. After fourteen years in the Air Force, I resigned, and applied to the Fathers of Mercy. On 14 August 1999, the eve of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I entered the Novitiate of the Fathers of Mercy. Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! Amen.

[Fr. Michel was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 4, 2005, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Editor's Note.]