Vocation Excitement

[Mrs_Sally]

I thought I’d share this because I’ve been participating is some more negative threads recently and I regret that. The Mass we attended this Sunday was celebrated by our new priest at the parish–he was just ordainded this past summer. Serving as his deacon was a friend of his from seminary who is a transitional deacon and will be ordained this June (God willing). The senior altar server was a young man from a nearby parish who has just begun his seminary studies. There were also 3 boys who were the regularly scheduled altar servers for this Mass.

All of the priests in residence come out to help distribute communion at each Sunday Mass, so at the moment the remaining Blessed Sacrament was reserved there were 3 priests, a transitional deacon, a seminarian, and 3 altar boys all genuflecting in the sanctuary. It was a beautiful sight!

 

[puzzleannie]

sounds like something terrific going on in this parish, what a blessing, and what a great atmosphere for vocations

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Thanks for the reply Annie. I guess next time to get more response I should label my thread “No Womyn on the Altar!!!” or something similar.

(You see my cynical side hasn’t been subdued yet…)

 

[NPC]

Very nice, Sally - your parish/diocese must be doing something right! It’s a sight that most of us don’t get to see very often. As Annie said, it sounds like a great atmosphere in which to foster vocations. Having altar boys witness reverent liturgy and the example of young men who are giving their lives to God is, I imagine, one of the surest ways of encouraging them to consider the priesthood in years to come.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Yes, this parish does have a heart for vocations! We include a prayer for vocations in the Prayers of the Faithful at every Mass. Our pastor does still only allow boys as altar serves and they do stay through high school when there is a big graduation ceremony for the seniors. The Pastor is also very hospitable and we have priests in residence and visiting priests all the time. (Helps to have a nice roomy rectory!) Only thing I am concerned about now is that the parochial vicar who is responsible for the altar boys is not very personable for young boys, so I pray that the youngest ones (4th graders) aren’t scared away from serving by his gruff manner.

The vocations director for the diocese is wonderful too–very active and energetic.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

We had another wonderful vocation example at Mass today. Our new priest (ordained last summer) again had a friend from seminary acting as deacon. Our permanent deacon was also there and another young man from seminary. So at communion we had 3 priests, 2 deacons, and a seminarian distributing communion! So beautiful! In his homily the priest talked a bit about seminary and mentioned that the Arlington diocese has almost 40 seminarians now. We also have 12 more men applying so, God willing, we will soon have over 50 in seminary!!!