"Surge et Ambula"
Welcome
My name is Robert D. Bishop
If you are here, I first wish to thank you for your interest in supporting my vocation. I am currently entering into Catholic priestly formation with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest based out of Gricigliano, Italy. By the grace of Almighty God, I may one day be ordained a priest.
About Me
I was sitting at a nice Italian restaurant with my mom this past year. As we ate our pasta fagioli, I told her I wanted to be a priest. She looked at me with her wonderful smile, and leaning back a tad said, "Well, when you were little, you ran up to me one day and said 'Mom--I'm going to be a priest!' I said that's great! And then you responded, 'And I am going to join the military!' So, I said that is great too; I want you to be happy!"
As far back as I can remember, my entire life, I have always known 2 things:
I want to join the military and I want to be a priest.
As a child, I went to a small Catholic school in southern New Jersey, where I learned the faith taught by the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary. I became an altar server as soon as I could, as seen here! I was eventually faced with the decision of going to college, and I decided to join the military, where I became a U.S. Naval Aviator.
Photo of me as a "Level 2" Altar Server in 2004
My crew aboard the P-8 while deployed to Europe, 2022.
I was a Navy P-8 Poseidon pilot, charged with hunting down submarines. It was a dream come true: travelling the world, flying a military Boeing 737, serving my country, meeting people from all-over, and most of all, getting paid to do it! Despite all the great fun and experiences I had, however, there was something deeply vacant in my heart:
I am missing something; where is my happiness?
The more time went on, the more I began to realize that I was living only for me. I had all but abandoned the desire to be a priest and decided to indulge on what I thought was best for me. I had cast aside my faith over the years and turned toward sin. But, by the grace of Our Almighty and Loving God, He brought me back into faith through a book on the Church's teaching of sin. Reading it, the Fear of God was the catalyst I needed to turn back towards the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. From that point forward, I promised to God that I am never living a life of self-indulgence and prideful ambition ever again.
I continued to serve in the military for 3 more years, and during that time, I was 'tapped on the shoulder' by Our Lord: "Remember the priesthood"? The amount of peace and love I felt is one that is difficult to explain, but as I turned my eyes towards Him, I was happier than all the years of chasing my various pursuits. For the first time, I actively desired to say yes to Him.
I want to be a priest.
Finishing my military service, I searched harder than ever to find where God would send me. After exploring various religious orders, only one persisted in my prayer: the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. I first came into contact with "the Institute" (for short) during a deployment to Sicily, Italy. There was a small parish there where I had the chance to see unfounded charity, gentleness, and love from the priests. I witnessed firsthand their desire and zeal for the faith and for their mission of bringing forth a Catholic culture by spreading the reign of Christ to every facet of life, every single day. God has a part in our life each and every moment, whether we see it or not.
Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann in Philadelphia with the religious sisters that taught us. I am here with the arrow!
I left that deployment thinking that there is something here that I want; I want to be living the Christian life as these men do. They are an international Society of Apostolic Life of pontifical right, with missions and parishes all over the world. From there, I applied, was accepted, and will now begin priestly formation with the Insitute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in September 2023.
This story is only the beginning of my journey; there are many thousands of young men like me looking to serve Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, as priests and religious. If reading more about me stirred a desire of supporting such a journey and cause, please prayerfully consider financially supporting my vocation by reading more about that here. Thank you, and may God bless you!
The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
My Formation
"The Institute" is international by design; but in order for everyone to communicate, the common language is French. They are also deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, with its seminary / headquarters located just outside of Florence, Italy. During my first year of formation here in the United States, I will study French, Latin, Gregorian chant, Salesian spirituality, and the common life of the Canons (the title for the priests) and Oblates (the title for the lay brothers). I will pray the divine office in the chapel everyday by chanting it like the Benedictine monks of old. I will be located at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit (pictured here) as I complete my first year of formation. From there, God-willing, I will travel to Gricigliano, Italy for 7 years of seminary, where I will study the spirituality of the Institute for one year, take 2 years of philosophy, and 4 years of theology. I will spend the summers at various Institute parishes around the world, learning the pastoral way of life. Click HERE for more information on the seminary life!
If you would like to learn more about the Institute of Christ the King, please click the button below:
Information for You
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness,
nothing so gentle as real strength."
- St. Francis de Sales
Contact
If you would like to get a hold of me, please fill out the form below. It can be anything from prayer requests to what is new in your life!
While in formation, I will not have a cell phone, so e-mail will the quickest way to contact me, or you can write to me the old-fashioned way via letter! I will write back those who write to me so please send me a letter or postcard.
God be with you!
St. Joseph Shrine
1828 Jay Street
Detroit, MI 48207
No phone as I focus on studies!