Seminarian Matthew Follis

Fargo, ND
Theology I
Saint Paul Seminary; St. Paul, MN

Matthew Follis grew up in Toronto Canada. He attended the university in North Bay Ontario to study history and education and, after completing his studies, taught for a time in the United Kingdom. Upon returning to Canada, he went through a spiritual renewal which blossomed in the discernment of a priestly call in the form of a simple thought, “I think you’re being called to be a priest”. This started his multi-year discernment journey which led him to Fargo, ND. After he moved to Fargo, Matthew sought guidance and direction from his parish priest at the Cathedral. He helped Matthew get more involved with the parish and it was not long until Matthew felt a draw to do more and learn more. The more he learned about the faith and the more he volunteered his time, the deeper he felt he was being led. One of the most important moments in his discernment was when his parish priest gave a homily in which he stated, “We all know what it is we want from our lives, but not all of us have asked God what it is He wants from our lives.” Upon reflection of that statement, Matthew asked God what it was that God wanted from his life. The calling to the priesthood was heard quite strongly that day. He met with the vocation director who arranged a visit to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary to spend a few days with some of the Fargo seminarians. Upon returning from the Mount, Matthew felt certain enough in the calling to complete an application for seminary to continue his discernment. He completed two years of pre-theology study at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and is now in his first of four years of theology studies at Saint Paul Seminary, MN.