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Discerning God's Call
Heath Fulmer’s journey to the priesthood is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, he stands on the path to becoming a priest for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Yet, his vocation is rooted in an encounter that changed his life—a transformation ignited by CSU.
Heath first connected with CSU during his freshman year at FSU, but life’s challenges led him to drift away. He faced struggles, loneliness, and even anger toward God. “I knew God was real, but I didn’t trust Him. I didn’t love Him. I didn’t want Him,” Heath shared. In his words, he became an “anti-evangelist,” pushing others away from the faith he had once known.
Despite his resistance, God persisted. Friends he met through CSU consistently reached out, inviting him to spirit nights, picnics, and events—even when he ignored their texts or tried to avoid them on campus. That relentless love and invitation from the CSU community planted seeds that would eventually blossom in ways Heath never anticipated.
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One day, in a moment of profound emptiness, Heath found himself sitting alone on a bench on FSU’s campus. He breathed out loud, “Why am I so unhappy?” And then, he heard the words of the Act of Contrition: “My God, whom I should love above all things.” Tears filled his eyes as he remembered the love he once knew.
“That was the turning point,” Heath recalled. “I realized the one thing I always wanted was the one thing I had walked away from.” With a heart full of humility, he went to confession. Overwhelmed by love and forgiveness, Heath admitted to the priest, “I’m so lonely.” The priest smiled and responded, “That’s not a sin, but if you are lonely, you should come to CSU.”
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He did. And it changed everything.
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Returning to CSU felt like stepping into a new world. “Walking into spirit nights was like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia,” Heath reflected. “I was loved, supported, and cared for. People knew my name. They prayed for me, sacrificed for me, and became my family—my brothers and sisters in Christ.”
This community not only brought him back to his faith but also nurtured his vocation to the priesthood. It was through CSU’s Bible studies, small groups, and retreats that Heath encountered the love of Christ in a deeply personal way. It was in those spaces of vulnerability, accountability, and spiritual growth that he began to discern God’s call for his life.
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“CSU was my school of love,” Heath shared with a smile. “It taught me how to live for Jesus with joy and how to walk this journey with others. I wouldn’t be on this path to priesthood without this community.”
Heath is not alone in this journey. A third of the priests in his diocese trace their vocations back to CSU. From friendships forged in Bible studies to late nights of fellowship and prayer, CSU has been a fertile ground for nurturing vocations.
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“We were just students back then, figuring out life,” Heath recalled. “We had no idea God was forming us for something bigger. CSU gave us a community to belong to, brothers who held us accountable, and a faith that could weather any storm.”
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Heath’s story is a testament to the power of community and the transformative love of Christ. It’s a reminder that your generosity has the power to change lives—now and for generations to come.
Will you light the way for students like Heath this Lenten season?
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Your gift will support CSU’s Bible studies, retreats, and programs that provide students with opportunities to encounter Christ and grow in faith. It will help sustain the community that continues to raise up future leaders, vocations, and witnesses of God’s love.
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