Father Sanford’s Vocation a ‘Gift’

Eleven years after hearing an initial calling from the Lord, Father Taylor Sanford was ordained to the priesthood May 22 at St. George Church in Baton Rouge. 

In 2010 Father Sanford, then a senior at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, felt the Lord was calling him to the priesthood, particularly in occasional moments of prayer during eucharastic adoration.

“But I did not have the relationship built up with Jesus to really trust him,” Father Sanford said. “So I just pushed it to the back of my mind.”

Father Sanford went on to LSU, majored in chemical engineering and began planning his future. 

“I was good at science and math and I figured I could get a job that would support a wife and family. But my heart was never into it,” he said. 

He became actively involved at Christ the King Church and Catholic Center in Baton Rouge, and it was then he was moved to consider that calling years, spurred by seeing priests who seemed fulfilled in their vocation.

Father Sanford admitted celibacy was the biggest impediment until he read the book “And You are Christ’s: The Charism of Celibacy,” by Father Thomas Dubay SM. 

“Everyone has an incarnate thirst, and we are made to have a thirst that is quenched by God. He (Father Dubay) described celibacy as going straight to the fount, the source, to have that thirst quenched. I saw it as life giving and fruitful,” said Father Sanford.

Through prayer, he said God confirmed the call to priesthood during his senior year at LSU and after graduation he applied to attend St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict. 

When first approaching the idea about becoming a priest with his parents, John and Melinda Sanford, Father Sanford said his mom “was way more excited than I was about the idea” while his father wanted him to be happy if that was his chosen vocation.

“I have been very blessed to have them be so supportive,” said Father Sanford, who has a younger brother, Connor. “Not everybody’s parents react in this way. Many Catholics love the idea of more supernatural vocations, but they are not willing to let their own children discern that call in freedom.”

Father Sanford said he continued to pray for assurance that indeed he was called to the priesthood, although unforeseen obstacles awaited. In August 2016, floodwaters ravaged St. Benedict and most of the cars on campus, including his own, were flooded.   Construction and repair work followed, forcing Father Sanford and others to sleep on cots, with privacy a precious commodity.

“I was priding myself that I love that idea of simplicity, abiding in God’s providence but once it happens to you it’s very difficult,” said Father Sanford.  

The following summer he was on assignment at St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton Rouge, which also flooded during 2016, when a bed bug infestation in his room forced renovation and Father Sanford was once again sleeping on a cot.  

In 2017, Father Sanford was on the leadership council for Abbey Youth Fest at St. Benedict when a storm swiftly came up during the event, creating “a couple of hours of chaos” as the seminarians moved the youth to another area of the campus with indoor and outdoor covered areas.  

“The final Mass was at 4 p.m., and it was outside. The sun finally came through and it was gorgeous and shining through,” said Father Sanford.  

A year ago, when Father Sanford was a student at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, the world came to a halt when the coronavirus pandemic struck.  

Father Sanford’s first assignment begins July 1 at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs, where he’ll be working side-by-side with another LSU chemical engineer graduate, pastor Father Matthew Graham. 

“So we will be bringing ICC a double-dose of whatever comes with that. (St. George pastor) Father Paul Yi counted five priests for our diocese that were formerly chemical engineers,” said Father Sanford. “Some have suggested the vocations office should move out of the chancery and set up shop in the chemical engineering department.”

Father Sanford will also be chaplain at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge. He’s worked with SMHS campus minister Emily Froeba on March for Life for several years and ran high school cross-country track with teacher and coach Joseph St. Cyr.

“So I look forward to going out on some runs with their team to build those relationships,” he said. 

For now, though, Father Sanford is enjoying a short break and basking in the beauty of his recent ordination to the priesthood. 

“It is absolutely incredible. I have been praying, studying and preparing for this life in a formal way for the past six years in the seminary. And I was already praying and thinking about it for many years before that. And now it is here,” he said. “It is such a gift. Words cannot begin to describe how incredible it is for me to be able to celebrate Mass and hear confessions. 

“It is a gift I do not deserve,” Father Sanford added. “God is so good. He has been so faithful. It is such a joy. Though I know I have only just dipped my toes into this priestly life, the water feels great.”