The mute button is worn out

Jerry Tavares, 28, son of Portuguese immigrant parents, was born in Toronto, raised in Hamilton and moved to Peterborough to attend Trent University where he studied history, French and political science in hopes of becoming a high school teacher some day, getting married and raising a family.

While he felt the Lord’s call all along, he pressed the mute button on God for many years, but the more he pressed the button, the louder God’s call became.

Finally, after years of involvement in the parish and discernment, Tavares answered and entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2004.

“So after some time of ignoring God, I decided to finally answer His call and I entered the seminary,” said Tavares. “And I still remember that day I moved in. There had been a rainstorm the night before that knocked out my power, so my alarm clock didn’t go on. Then I went to the gas station to get some fuel to drive to Scarborough, and locked my keys in my car. I was the last guy to show up at the seminary that year, and I thought, this is a good start.”

He looks forward to serving in the diocese of Peterborough.