The May 2011 issue of Columbia Magazine featured a story on three vocations stories of former athletes who left the field to enter the seminary or religious life. One of those featured is Dominican Brother Peter Junipero Hannah, O.P. of the Province of the Holy Name (Western Dominican Province). Bro. Peter, who golfed for the University of California at San Diego, remarks in the article, "I didn't want golf to become my idol." The author of the article goes on, "Any young man is to be admired when pursuing a vocation to the priesthood and committing to a life of celibacy, obedience and ministry. But it is especially shocking to mainstream society when the candidate has garnered considerable public praise for his athletic accomplishments."

From the article:

Dominican Brother Peter Junipero Hannah, 33, bowed out of his athletic career before reaching the professional level. He won several junior golf tournaments growing up in Monterey, Calif., and then golfed for the University of California at San Diego. He was initially passionate about turning pro but had second thoughts by the time he began graduate school at St. John's College in Maryland in 2001. "I didn't want golf to become my idol," he said.

Influenced by the writings of G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis and Blessed John Henry Newman, the former Presbyterian was received into the Catholic Church in 2003 and began seminary in 2006 with the Order of Preachers.

Any young man is to be admired when pursuing a vocation to the priesthood and committing to a life of celibacy, obedience and ministry. But it is especially shocking to mainstream society when the candidate has garnered considerable public praise for his athletic accomplishments.

Brother Peter, for one, is dismayed that athletics are etched so strongly into the national consciousness. "Sports are fun in a lot of ways, but our culture is kind of skewed in what they put into it," he said.

Observing that it would have taken years of intense commitment to hone his golf game to a professional level — with no guarantee of success — Brother Peter said he much prefers having devoted his life to service in the Lord. He is now completing a one-year parish assignment at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska, as he prepares to be a priest. "I can't imagine a better life," he said.

Read the full article at the Columbia Magazine website.

Columbia Magazine is a publication of the Knights of Columbus.  The founder of the Knights of Columbus, The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney is buried in our Dominican church of St. Mary's in New Haven, Connecticut.  The friars of St. Joseph Province work closely with the Knights and assist them in various capacities. Over the years our friars have served as directors of the Catholic Information Service of the Knights of Columbus. Currently Fr. Juan Diego Brunetta, O.P., is the Director of CIS and through the help of friars of our province has produced the Veritas series of booklets. Also Father Gabriel O’Donnell, O.P., is the postulator for the cause for sainthood of Father McGivney. For more on the Knights, see the The Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney website and the Knights of Columbus website.