Answering the Call: Frey to Begin New Chapter as Catholic Priest
Deacon Adam Frey
By Terry Dickson
DIOCESE OF BILOXI – On Saturday, May 24, Deacon Adam Frey will take the final step in his journey to the priesthood when Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III ordains him at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi at 10:30 a.m.
A native of Ocean Springs and the son of Robert and Michele Frey, Adam was born in New Orleans and lived in Chalmette until kindergarten before his family moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 2013 and began his college studies at the University of South Alabama, originally pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. It was during this time, however, that the call to the priesthood became louder and more persistent.
“As I entered my teenage years, God slowly put the priestly vocation on my heart,” Frey recalls. “But it took years of prayer and growth for me to truly say yes.” While active in the Catholic Student Association at South Alabama, he deepened his prayer life and began serving at daily Mass. A priest’s encouragement to pray specifically for openness to God’s will became a pivotal moment. “It opened my heart to discern formally in seminary,” he says.
Frey entered seminary and was ordained to the transitional diaconate in May 2022. Since then, his time in ministry has helped him understand how theory and reality often diverge. “What we learn in seminary doesn’t always fit the complexities of real-life ministry,” he explains. “I’ve learned that having a true ministerial heart means first listening—then responding with compassion and flexibility.”
His ordination to the diaconate also provided a moment of profound spiritual clarity. “It wasn’t until I was walking down the aisle that I received an overwhelming consolation from the Holy Spirit,” Frey says. “In that moment, any doubt disappeared. I knew the priesthood was where God wanted me.”
Now, as he prepares for his priestly ordination—just days before his 30th birthday—Frey reflects on how God’s timing has been perfect. “If Jesus began his public ministry at 30, I feel like I’m in good company,” he says with a smile. “And to make it even more special, my nephew Joseph shares the same birthday as my ordination. It’s a day we’ll celebrate together for years.”
Frey’s vocation has been supported every step of the way by family and friends. “They’ve never questioned my decision. Their encouragement has been a true blessing,” he says.
Looking ahead, Frey says he’s most excited about celebrating the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and confession. “Having received forgiveness so many times myself, I now have the privilege to extend that mercy to others,” he says. “I look forward to helping people grow in holiness through the grace of the Church.”
He’s also passionate about youth and campus ministry, having served students at Sacred Heart, Resurrection School, and the Eagle Catholic Student Association in Hattiesburg. “Being present in the halls and classrooms—not just at school Mass—is essential,” he explains. “I want to be someone young people feel they can turn to, whether for advice or just someone to listen.”
Despite the joy ahead, Frey is also mindful of the challenges facing new priests today. “It’s easy to burn out if we don’t take care of ourselves,” he notes. “There’s always more to do—more events, more needs—but spiritual self-care must remain a priority.”
As part of his preparation, Frey is taking a weeklong retreat at Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, joining the monks in prayer and reflection before his ordination. “Prayer has been a central pillar of my formation, and this retreat is an important part of entering priesthood grounded in that same spirit.”
Among his role models, he names Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Benedict, and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. From Pope Benedict, he draws inspiration from a reverent liturgical vision; from Saint Benedict, a call to integrate prayer and work; and from Blessed Pier Giorgio, a heart for the poor and marginalized.
To those discerning their own vocations, Frey offers simple but powerful advice: “Stay close to the sacraments. Go to Mass, go to confession, pray daily. But most of all, pray for an open heart—because without openness, you won’t hear God’s voice above the world’s noise.”
Frey will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Ocean Springs on Sunday, May 25 at 11 a.m.
