New priest finds calling to young adult ministry through Ultimate Frisbee

Father Gregory Miller plays Ultimate Frisbee during the annual “Cassock Classic.” / Credit: Father Gregory Miller

CNA Staff, May 26, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Father Gregory Miller is a recently ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who discovered that he enjoyed working in young adult ministry while in seminary — all thanks to Ultimate Frisbee. 

He fell in love with the sport in high school and was a part of his school’s team, who went to the state championships several times. 

“When I was entering the seminary, I was sad that I wasn’t going to have an opportunity to keep playing ultimate,” Miller, 27, told CNA in an interview. 

However, the vocation director told Miller about the “Cassock Classic,” an annual Ultimate Frisbee tournament for all the young adult groups throughout the archdiocese. After the previous seminarian who ran the event discerned out of seminary, Miller was asked to take over.

“I’ve run it for the last nine years, with a break for COVID, [and] the event has only increased in size and popularity,” he explained. “It’s been a real blessing to be a part of that.”

The new priest believes organized sports plays an important role in young adult ministry, as does the opportunity to go on retreats and attend events such as Theology on Tap. 

Second-grade dream come true

Miller was in second grade when he knew that he wanted to be a priest — and on May 18 that second-grade dream came true. He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in downtown Philadelphia.

The youngest of four children, Miller grew up Catholic and attended Mass regularly with his family. His family are parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Royersford, Pennsylvania, and all four children attended the parish’s school. It was there that Miller celebrated his first Mass as a newly ordained priest on May 19.

“It was really a beautiful celebration,” Miller said. “I was looking forward to being able to see the parish community. They have seen me grow up and really grow into this priestly role. They have been praying a lot for me over these years.” 

He added: “One of the thoughts I had during the Mass [was that]I was so humbled that I could give back the gift of the Eucharist to these people who have given me so many prayers and support throughout my time in the seminary.”

Miller shared that he looked up to the pastor of his parish growing up and remembers saying he wanted to become a priest for the first time when he was in second grade. However, when he was in fifth grade he remembers no longer saying that and became more interested in engineering. When he was in his junior year of high school, Miller saw all of his friends excited about applying to college and picking careers but he didn’t share in that excitement.

“I noticed that I wasn’t that excited about engineering and a little voice in my head reminded me about the priesthood,” he recalled. 

He spoke with his pastor Father Peter DiMaria, who played an important role in Miller’s vocation. DiMaria was the pastor of Miller’s home parish from the time he was in eighth grade until his third year in seminary. Knowing of his desire to enter the priesthood, DiMaria gave Miller books to read on the lives of the saints, gave him opportunities to serve at Masses, and took him to visit the seminary.

“He was a great role model for the priesthood and he really helped me discern my vocation,” Miller shared.

While discerning the priesthood during his junior year, Miller prayed daily asking God what he should do and visited the adoration chapel several times a week. After about eight months, he “felt Christ asking me to trust him.”

It was then he decided to enter St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. 

Now, Miller is preparing for his new assignment at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. 

“So far I’ve been hearing great things about this parish, and I can’t wait to start serving them,” he said.