FROM BEHIND THE PLATE TO BEHIND THE ALTAR
Former minor league umpire gets no argument with the call—to priesthood

By Jim Penrice

Sean Dowling never fulfilled his dreams of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll superstar or a Major League Baseball umpire—and he couldn’t be happier.

Instead, the boy who once preferred guitars and baseball to going to Mass was joyfully ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Burlington, Vermont on May 30. Father Sean is part of a growing trend of men whose paths to Holy Orders have included detours, some seemingly at odds with their eventual vocation.
“God has a sense of humor,” he quipped.

Other priorities

Growing up in New Jersey as one of six children of Kevin and Moira Dowling, Sean attended Mass every Sunday—but didn’t like it. His boyhood thoughts and dreams were far from Christ and the Church. “When I was twelve years old I decided I was going to be the next Bruce Springsteen,” he said. “I got a guitar, learned how to play, and began performing in bands.” Even with an accounting degree from Montclair State University, Sean’s ambition was rock ‘n’ roll stardom—and he fell into the unhealthy lifestyle that often accompanies it.

“For ten years I played in rock ‘n’ roll bands,” he said, “and I lived the lifestyle. I never went to church. After awhile I started to burn out. My life needed to go in another direction.”

His sister Maura, concerned for her younger brother, suggested that Sean consider a career in umpiring. He had played high school baseball, and his friend Erik Hanson had spent about a dozen years playing professionally—including pitching for a year with the Boston Red Sox. With the encouragement of his sister and his friend, Sean enrolled in the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in Florida. Upon completion of his training he landed a job with the rookie Gulf Coast League, and soon advanced to the Class A New York-Penn League. After notching three seasons under his belt, Sean was confident he was on his way to the majors.

Yet another direction

Then came the letter thanking Sean for his service, and informing him that this dream also was not going to come true. But this time Sean was equipped to handle the disappointing news. As his sister had been there at the end of his music career to support him and point out a new direction, another caring woman had
entered Sean’s life during his umpiring days who had taken him into her care—our Blessed Mother.

While working as an umpire Sean read Wayne Weible’s book “Medjugorje: The Message,” and became captivated. “It was my conversion experience,” he said. “I couldn’t get enough about Medjogorje. I read as much as I could.” He has since made two pilgrimages to the holy site. Through Mary, Sean had a fresh encounter with her Son Jesus and the Church, and began to find the fulfillment he had sought unsuccessfully in other places.

Yet while he was on fire with faith for the first time in his life, Sean was working in an atmosphere where it was difficult to live it fully. His umpiring schedule allowed him to attend Mass only about once a month, and the environment of minor league baseball was a challenging one in which to nurture his fledgling relationship with Christ and the Catholic Church. “I didn’t tell anybody about [my faith]. I was afraid people would think I was a religious nut,” he said. “I felt like I was living in two different worlds. I wasn’t really happy”

Living in two different worlds often made for long days. After umpiring a game and going out on the town afterwards, Sean would typically pray the Rosary at 2:00 AM, the only hour he could find the time and the privacy. “Other umpires would see my light on and wonder what was going on,” he said.

Losing his umpiring job turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and Sean’s first step towards integrating his faith life into his entire life. He soon met a priest who thought he might have a vocation to the priesthood. Through prayerful discernment Sean found his way to the formation program for the diocese of Burlington. He graduated this spring from Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a Master of Divinity degree, and was ordained a priest for the Burlington diocese with three other men on May 30 by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano.

Ready to serve

Father Sean’s exuberance for his vocation is inspiring. He speaks excitedly of the moment when the bishop laid hands on him and conferred the sacrament of Holy Orders. That same excitement promises to thrive for years to come in his priesthood. He is happy, energized, and ready to minister.

While no longer working in professional sports, Father Sean has pastoral concern for those who are involved in athletics and face the challenge of living their faith in an often challenging environment. “Stay close to Christ and keep praying,” he advises. “If you don’t have a decent and growing prayer life, you’re going to fall.” To anyone who may sense a call to a religious vocation, Father Sean urges taking the time to properly discern. No matter the outcome, he says, it is well worth making the search.

This is Burlington’s largest ordination class in years. At their diaconate ordination last year, vocation director Fr. Daniel E. White told The Vermont Catholic Tribune: “I think not only the number but particularly the quality of
these men who are preparing for the priesthood is a great sign of hope for the future. These are men who could do absolutely anything they put their minds to, and they are joyfully laying down their lives for the faithful in the state of Vermont because of Christ’s call to follow Him ‘who came to serve and not to be served.’”

With testimony like that, no one can argue that this former umpire has made the right call.