Jonathan Emery's Biography            

Our Seminarian: Jonathan Emery, the son of Robert and Robin Emery, was born on Sunday May 3, 1987. He and his family moved to Plant City when he was a month old. Jonathan has three younger brothers, Kurtis, Lars, and Luke and one sister, Kateri. At the age of eight Jonathan began to serve as an altar server at St. Clement. It was during this time of serving that Jonathan first thought about becoming a priest. Jonathan’s education has included being home schooled, attending Tomlin Middle School, and graduating from Plant City High School on May 24, 2005. 

Jonathan’s vocation story: “During my discernment I heard a lot of men tell their discernment stories and in those stories almost every one of them is asking God, ‘what do you want me to do with my life.’ And they ask for a sign. Well like most people they were hoping for a miracle, something, that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were meant to become a priest, but nothing happened. No angels, no saints, no visitations from Mary, why wasn’t God answering their prayers? Then suddenly something would happen, an odd thought would strike them, an odd coincidence would occur, and they would realize that God had just answered them. I have noticed the same sort of ‘coincidence’ in my life and I discovered that it was God’s way of talking to me. So I decided to go with the flow and try to stay aware of the subtle events in my life that may be God trying to tell me something and it lead me to the seminary. Now God may want me to become a priest or he may just be trying to teach me a lesson that I can only learn by doing this. For God always answers your prayers, however, the answer is rarely what you were expecting, but it is always much better. Just trust in God.”

The process for those who enter the seminary after high school includes obtaining a four year degree from a college seminary and then obtaining a Masters of Divinity degree from a theological seminary. In addition, the seminarian must complete a pastoral year in a parish. Jonathan will be attending St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.

His address is: Jonathan Emery, St. John Vianney College Seminary, 2900 S.W. 87th Ave, Miami, Fl. 33165