Laboure Society
“I want to be the holy man that "college Justin" needed- a guide for young people confounded by the world...”
Meet the rest of my class
My name is Justin Hollingshead. I am called to serve Christ and His Church as a priest with the Diocese of Albany. This is my story.
I grew up in a rough neighborhood in upstate New York, in a non-churchgoing family. Recognizing the impact my environment was having on me, my grandmother enrolled me in a Catholic middle school in a better neighborhood. There, I encountered the Faith and some wonderful, holy men and women. This stirred in me a desire to be baptized, but I was not until much later.
Growing up, I enjoyed science fiction and multi-player video games, which resulted in me forming most of my friendships online. In college, I majored in game programming. However, I was surrounded by introverted, anti- social students. I felt empty inside, aching for community, wishing for someone to extend a comforting word of wisdom to a twenty-something filled with excruciating questions. What was I made for? Why was I here? My grandmother had told me, “Everything happens for a reason.” Yet what was the reason? Who could tell me?
Dissatisfied, I got involved in stand-up comedy, and switched my major to filmmaking. I wrote a short comedy sketch that I needed to film, which included a scene with a couple whose baby was being baptized. I called local Catholic churches, asking if I could film the scene in their church. Most said no, but the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont allowed me film in their chapel. The night I traveled up for the filming, I felt as if I was doing something that I was really supposed to do.
At the Center, I encountered a group of Catholic students. I cracked a joke, and they laughed. Everyone there was so friendly to me! Their friendliness touched me in a special way, and opened the door to an accepting community that helped draw me into the Faith. This was the first time I’d connected with students my age. They cared and met me where I was at. It was the most important day of my life. By the end of that week, I had enrolled in RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults – classes in the Catholic Faith). At the 2021 Easter Vigil, I received the sacraments and entered the Catholic Church.
After graduation, I worked at the Archdiocese of New York creating social media aimed at teens and young adults, using humor to draw them to the Faith. I also worked in communications for parishes in the Diocese of Albany.
I met several priests who encouraged me to consider the priesthood. When my pastor invited me to attend a retreat for seminarians, I felt in my heart that I was being asked to give discernment a shot. While wrestling with this, I told Jesus that I’d trust him to help me out, and immediately, I felt at peace.
Albany is my home. I feel that, by being the best priest I can be, I can be a “little Christ,” a conduit for God’s grace and healing for God’s people, and transform my little corner of Albany. Most of all, I want to be the holy man that “college Justin” needed – a guide for young people confounded by the world, and a rock to lean on for my parishioners and all those I encounter. I want to know that I have made people’s lives better, and helped bring them to Christ.
Please pray for me and for my fellow Labouré classmates on our vocation journeys. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have at: Justin@rescuevocations.org.
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