“I guess you can take the man away from the vocation, but not the vocation away from the man,” reflected the Rev. Mr. John Testa about his deferred call to the priesthood. Rev. Mr. Testa, 46, is living proof that God’s call, though delayed for decades, cannot be denied.

Five months after John Testa’s July 1, 1964, birth in New Brunswick, his father, Francis, died, leaving the only child to be raised by his mother, Josephine. Young John completed grammar school in St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Highland Park, then he and his mother relocated to Ocean County, where he graduated from Toms River High School East in 1982.

Though Rev. Mr. Testa first considered a priestly life while still in high school, he was not yet ready to make such a life-changing commitment. He entered the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University), earning a degree in marketing in 1986. The sports lover served as the basketball team’s student manager and was the only non-athlete to ever win the school’s athletic director award for dedication in service.

After his college graduation, Rev. Mr. Testa worked in the business world for six years, but God’s call to the priesthood resurged. He enrolled in Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, in 1993, but left after two years to work with a major company for six years and then the Township of Toms River for four years. Ten years into Rev. Mr. Testa’s career, God’s call once again grew louder and more insistent.

“I had a good job with the parking authority, but I guess the hounds of heaven were tugging at my heartstrings,” Rev. Mr. Testa laughingly remembered.

During dinner with good friend Father Gerard McCarron, the two discussed the feasibility of Rev. Mr. Testa once again pursuing the priestly vocation. The then-43-year-old admitted the possibility had weighed on his mind, but wondered if his age would be an impediment.

At Father McCarron’s urging, Rev. Mr. Testa approached his pastor, Conventual Franciscan Father Richard Rossell, for a letter of recommendation, then relayed it to Msgr. Gregory D. Vaughan, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the curia and director of seminarians. Rev. Mr. Testa re-entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in 2008 and recently completed his studies after the initial 13-year hiatus.

“I’m glad I waited,” Rev. Mr. Testa asserted during a recent interview with The Monitor. “I had more life experiences, I was more mature, I knew who I was and (knew) my skills and limitations.” 

His transitional diaconate assignments were in St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, and his home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Seaside Heights, where he preached homilies, made wake and cemetery visits with grieving families, and presided at Baptisms and funerals.

“My mother loved watching me as a deacon,” Rev. Mr. Testa said, stating the now-90-year-old Josephine is eagerly anticipating his ordination.

Rev. Mr. Testa’s ordination will mark the end of a 30-year journey of discernment and study and will begin the next phase of his life. The future parochial vicar in Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, looks forward to serving the Diocese of Trenton as a parish priest.

“The joy of the priesthood will be being with people; that’s what it’s all about,” Rev. Mr. Testa asserted.

As for his advice to a man considering a late vocation to the priesthood, “With modern technology, it’s easy,” Rev. Mr. Testa said, showing a hint of his marketing background. “Go to the diocesan website, www.dioceseoftrenton.org; or to www.godiscallingyou.com. Those are good starting points. Pick up the phone and call Msgr. Vaughan. He’s very receptive.”