August 2006 - Tom Samoray

When Tom Samoray starts talking about vocations, a glimmer of recognition flickers across the faces of some of the adults in the audience. They may not place the face, but the "big" voice is unmistakable. Samoray left a full-time career in radio broadcasting two years ago to become Director of Vocation Awareness and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Nashville.

It's not unusual for radio personalities to lead a nomad's lifestyle, moving from market to market as formats or station managers change. But where Samoray's life path led him shows that God might have a gentle sense of humor.

Samoray, 54, grew up in northern Michigan in an era when priests were plentiful. He once considered a priestly vocation. But the teen, who enjoyed pretending to be a disc jockey with 45 rpm records in his basement, was encouraged by his parish priest to pursue a degree in broadcasting instead. Samoray smiles at the irony that now he talks up vocations for others. "You just never know the Master Plan."

After earning a degree in Mass Communication from the Jesuit-run University of Detroit, Samoray worked at stations in Saginaw, Michigan, and Monroe, Louisiana, before moving to Nashville in 1989. He worked in record promotion, then took a job at a country music station before settling at an "oldies" station.

His on-air shift was 7 p.m. to midnight, taking requests and dedications. Every evening, however, he found himself listening to many callers' painful stories off the air. "I heard from battered women, people who lost relatives, the depressed. It really was a ministry - an eye-opener to me to find all of those people who needed help."

Tom and his wife Barb were active members of St. Stephen Parish in a pleasant suburb outside of Nashville. He was a Eucharistic minister, lector and minister to the sick. He also has been involved in the Landings program, inviting lapsed Catholics back to the Faith, and was a sponsor for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). "But I still felt the call to do more."

About that time, Samoray heard from his pastor, Father Steve Wolf, who at the time was director of vocations formation for the diocese. Father Wolf knew the director of vocations promotion was taking a leave. The job required a solid communicator who also was solid in his faith. So he recommended Samoray.

After starting the position part-time in December 2003, Samoray went full-time four months later after he finished a master's degree in pastoral studies from the Loyola Institute for Ministry
Extension program. And he still does some part-time work at another "oldies" radio station. When he gives vocations talks at area schools, some of the parents come up and tell him they recognized his voice. "The students find that great. It's cool to them," he laughs.

However, Samoray, the father of two, hopes the youths take away the deeper message about the importance of listening to the quiet voice in their hearts. "Everyone has to listen to that voice, whether it's directing someone to the priesthood, to the sisterhood, or to married or single life," he tells them.

Samoray is impressed with the "inquisitive, practical" students he has met and their "very mature questions" about their place in the world. "Mostly, they want to know, 'How do you hear God's call for what He wants you to do in life?' I tell them it's through prayer, through following your conscience."

A grant from Catholic Extension helps underwrite the vocations effort in the diocese, which includes a lively website (www.nashvillepriest.com) started by his predecessor, Father James Armour, to answer questions about priestly and religious life. A CD, also developed by Father Armour, recounts the vocations journeys of several priests. With his background in radio, Samoray says he would like to do more promotion through billboards or other
media but recognizes that the strongest "promotion" is done one-on-one.

"I can do all the publicity I'd like, but it has to be an invitation," Samoray says. "Most of the priests we talk to affirm this. In following their own vocation, there was a mentor there somewhere."

With secular messages bombarding youth at every turn, it's important, he believes, to "re-image" vocations to the religious life and provide positive messages about pursuing that life path. He sees himself as a "cheerleader" for vocations. "We have to make some noise to be heard."

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Read more about Tom Samoray's vocations ministry in the August issue of EXTENSION Magazine -- sign up NOW to receive 12 FREE issues!