On the day before his sixth birthday John Fitzcanty meets Gerry, a man whose actions will haunt John for the rest of his life. As he grows into a young man, John struggles to understand his feelings of guilt and shame. Unable to talk to his taciturn father, he is drawn instead to the comfort and isolation of Faircliff Hall Seminary. There, he takes refuge in his faith and throws himself into his studies to become a priest, convinced he can escape the ghost of his past. But at Faircliff Hall John discovers a world more confusing than comforting. Questionable practices and dubious attitudes abound. There are secrets that no one will speak about. John begins to doubt his vocation, and when he discovers that there is evil at play in the Church's youth ministry, he is forced to confront the past he has buried and examine the dark underbelly of Catholic morality. At turns both charming and challenging, The Calling of John Fitzcanty is a masterful coming-of-age story that explores how power can corrupt, control and leave us questioning not just our intentions, but our very identities.