By Fr. Kyle Ratuiste
Andrew Kelley’s decision to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Spokane was not obvious. His hometown and family are in western Oregon, and he only came to Spokane to attend Gonzaga University. In the American seminary system, men discerning and preparing to be diocesan priests must be sponsored by a specific diocese. This diocese invests in the man’s formation with the expectation that he – if in fact called to priesthood – will become a lifelong priest for the diocese. However, seminary is just a much for testing a man’s call to the diocese as it is for verifying the call to priesthood itself. Andrew’s initial discernment led him to apply to be a Spokane seminarian as he graduated from Gonzaga in 2020, but a daunting question still lay before him: Can I ever be happy in a place where I have no family?
As Andrew recounts, God’s response to this pressing question has unfolded in grace-filled ways over his five years of seminary formation. He has perceived the Lord gradually preparing a home for him in eastern Washington. Andrew’s recent seven-month pastoral internship in Walla Walla has been his latest and most potent experience of being strengthened in his sense of connection and call to the Diocese of Spokane.
From June 2024 until Christmas Day, Andrew immersed himself in the pastoral life of the Walla Walla Catholic community. He assisted at liturgies, taught classes at the Catholic high school, and visited the sick. He joined the prison ministry team, shadowed the priests in parts of their ministry, and spearheaded his own projects – such as a six-week discernment group.
Seminarian Andrew Kelly (cross bearer) assists at the Corpus Christi Procession at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Walla Walla. Fr. Andrew O’Leary carries the monstrance.
Parish assignments necessarily provide seminarians opportunities to hone their pastoral skills, but what was most formative for Andrew was the quality of relationships that marked his time in Walla Walla. He reflected, “My experience in Walla Walla was something of a crowning moment of my experience of growing in relationship with the diocese and my love for the people.”
Patrick Perez, a member of Assumption Parish in Walla Walla, described Andrew as “a blessing to me, my family, and the community.” Patrick noted that he and Andrew were able to connect on a more personal level by being part of the same Exodus 90 men’s group. Patrick also lauded Andrew for his broader impact on the community: inspiring young men to serve at the altar with excellence, uplifting elderly parishioners with charity and joy, and sharing his musical talents to help raise hearts and minds to God.
Patrick Perez (L) stands with seminarian Andrew Kelley (R) in Assumption Parish.
High school student Jude Neal of St. Patrick Parish in Walla Walla was a participant in the discernment group Andrew led. Jude expressed his gratitude for getting to know Andrew and said, “It was a great experience to discern with him and the other guys.”
“I felt in Walla Walla more than in any other assignment that a place has been formed for me in their families, welcoming me not just as a guest but to really be a part of their lives,” Andrew marveled.
Seminarian Andrew Kelley (far left) joins a parishioner family for dinner.
Andrew still has a little over two years of formation at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA before his projected priestly ordination in the spring of 2027. His pastoral internship in Walla Walla has left a lasting impact on his approach to formation. He describes his mindset toward studies as “more pastoral now, done with an eye toward the reality of priestly ministry in the parish.” He still prays daily for the people of Walla Walla, and Andrew recognizes within himself an impetus to “be available to meet as many needs and desires as I can in [parish ministry].”
While he is away at seminary, Andrew found a creative way to foster a connection with the diocese. He started a blog. He explained, “My desire to continue giving myself to the faithful of the diocese was at the root of my desire to start the blog.” The title of his blog, Container Grown, is a both a nod to his upbringing and a reflection of his desire for the future. Growing up helping his father on their family’s tree nursery, he learned their approach of cultivating “container grown” plants. By being in their own pots, young trees easily could be moved as needed until they are planted in their final home. Between college, seminary, and pastoral assignments, Andrew has likened himself to a “container grown tree,” and he looks forward to being able to sink his roots deeply in the diocese. In some ways, he has already begun.
“Many of the faithful of the diocese have made it abundantly clear that I am welcome in their lives,” Andrew explained. “I hope the faithful will feel welcome in mine, too, and will know that my time, my work, and my love is theirs.”
Patrick, the Assumption parishioner, mirrors Andrew’s hope, saying, “We cannot wait to meet with him again, and most of all, we cannot wait to call him ‘Father’!”