Entering the priesthood can be a challenging but rewarding path for those who are called to serve. For one Southern Tier man, it all started within the walls of his Catholic school. The young priest now hopes to encourage the next generation to consider following his path.

We all have our calling, purpose and mission in life. Sometimes, it can take decades to figure out what that is.

For Brendan Foley, it started in college.

"My undergraduate degrees is in exercise science. I was working my way to study physical therapy and calling to be involved in healing in some way. And so I think that was a great foundation for me to continue to hear God's voice in my life and then continue to to lead me to the future," said Foley, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Church.

Foley would put his physical therapy career on hold when he felt his calling to the priesthood. As a 2010 Catholic school graduate, he reflected on the importance of his early education.

“There always was the spirit of family. Everyone took care of everyone. And we always wanted everyone to succeed. And I didn't know that I wanted to be a priest when I left high school. But it was certainly something that had a great foundation coming out of these doors and leading me to what was next,” said Foley.

Foley’s ordination came at an important time for the Roman Catholic Diocese. A shortage of clergy across upstate New York is leading priests to sometimes cover two to three churches on their own. This comes as more than one-third of New Yorkers identify as Catholic.

For context, there are 130 priests in the Diocese of Buffalo, down from 199 in 2010 and 299 in 2000. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse does plan to welcome a number of new priests in the coming year.

As a young priest returning to his former school, Foley could be encouraging a whole new generation to follow in his path.

"I think any time you can have anybody that's young, that's very relatable to our our students here. And so I think that definitely does help them in their discerning process of trying to figure out what they want to do,” said Pat Monachino, principal at Seton Catholic Central.

"I absolutely just want each student here to be able to find their vocation and to live God's calling for their life. And if I help a little bit in that in that journey today, praise God. What a blessing to be a little part of it,” said Foley.

Whatever that calling may be, Foley is hoping these kids never stop following it.