Vocations Surge

[jc-servant]

I’m glad to see an article recognizing the fact that there are men entering seminary. I would note that the regional numbers can be misleading because my parish has quite a few young men in seminary but not one in our own diocese. I’m just happy that we may provide some priests for the universal church regardless of where they end up. We also have one young lady who just entered a convent on the path to becoming a nun this past fall. There is strong support from the parish for all of our youth and toward vocations.

BTW, we do have PEA (dedicated to JPII and vocations) and Lifeteen. All of our seminarians came through our LT ministry which emphasized the Eucharist as the center of worship included frequent adoration. Our teens used to have their own weekly holy hour with the chapel packed to the walls. We started having a vocations chalice last year that passed from family to family each week to foster more prayers and to help families talk about religious vocations.

stannparish.org/fform/formations/9/information.html?id=354

 

[Titus]

At our parish, just about every boy from 5 years old to their early 20’s in an altar boys.

At a typical Sunday Mass, we have 30+ boys serving (most carry swing torches in procession).

We also have 6 men in the Seminary right now from our parish . 3 men in various stages towards the ‘permanent Diaconate’ and 3 women in Postulant\Novice programs towards religious life.

this is out of about 800 families.

That sounds fantastic Brendan, what’s the secret?

 

[Unfinished]

surge

You guys remember that drink? What ever happened to it?

SURGE!!!

Anyways, back on topic.

 

[Elzee]

I’ve only had time to skim the article, but I was always under the impression that the Lincoln Diocese, on a per capita basis, was always ‘on top’ or close to it with vocations. Is that not true?

 

[Ave_Maria_1]

I emailed Brendan to see what parish he is from and I had two guesses for there are two well known parishes in the Detroit area that are outstanding in orthodoxy. And the graces of faithfulness and holiness will bring forth vocations.

Adoration is also powerful for vocations.

My diocese has been ‘empowering the laity’ for years (older women mostly) and is vocation poor. No perpetual adoration in the whole diocese and no TLM either. We are not known for orthodoxy. Sigh.

Ave Maria!

 

[Brendan]

Ave,

I’m at SS. Cyril and Methodius

And I pretty much outlined the ‘secret’. It’s an all male altar boy cadre that includes just about every boy from 5 years old until early 20’s

Most of the girls of the parish either belong to the teen choir, or the young girls choir.

Add to that a very reverant Mass and you have a good recipe for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

 

[scylla]

We have had no vocations in my parish for about 20 years since my older brother went to seminary.
As I recall we had another vocation about 4 years before my brother.
Then we instituted altar girls, built a new Church as our community grew to about 650 families.
Then our priest left and was replaced by a nun, it was interesting how much uproar there was when she tried to give a homily and people left. The last time there was a sermon given by someone who was not a priest almost no-one noticed. The lady talked up on the pulpit and no one blinked an eye.
A little while ago one of our hired priests was a little too orthodox and complained, he is not hired out for Mass anymore.
We have had the first liturgical dancing a little while ago and there was a small protest, but I am sure with a little more indoctrination that will die down too.

Hmm…

Maybe a return to orthodoxy would help in my parish.
God Bless
Scylla

 

[Ave_Maria_1]

I would think that you need to find a ROMAN CATHOLIC parish as soon as possible! Soon, before your own faith is decimated.

How horrible is what you have described and in no way pleasing to God. Is the whole diocese corrupt like that?

I hope there is another way for you.
Ave Maria!

 

[scylla]

Not all, just many there are some nice orthodox parishes here in the diocese, but plenty of heterodoxy here in the dioceses of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino.

In fact many are excited to be going to the L.A. Religious Congress this year, which most would agree is full of dissent and wayward teaching. It really influences many parishes here in So. Cal.
That is why we are have a death of Vocations, this type thinking does not breed vocations but a significant destruction of the Catholic faith.

I am not leaving my parish as I believe enough people have left. We have a huge Calvary Chapel close by made up of mostly ex-catholics, hey they have 3 services each Sunday and they started about 10 years ago. We are down to 1 from 3. Maybe we just need a little more contemporary music to bring them back and a little more participation from the laity.(JK)
My faith can endure plenty of heterodoxy, it just turns my stomach.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[frleo]

One of my earlier memories is going with my mother and grandmother to a sewing party. The lady of the house where we went had son about to be ordained. All the ladies of the parish met to sew and embrodier his vestments.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something like that.

Why won’t our bishops lead us? Why don’t they call on us for greater participation? We could have a parish “adopt” each seminarian. Let him come to the parish and meet the people. Let us send him things – small things, like an occasional box of cookies or something like that – as if he were our own son away at college.

Every fall, the vocation director for our diocese gives a list of the seminarians and their mailing addresses. I put the addresses in the bulletin and encourage our people to pray for and offer words of encouragement and maybe a little bonus as well. I also send a check to each seminarian in from each of my parishes. Granted, we are a small diocese with only about 35 active priests and 4 men right now in the seminary, so it is much easier to get to know the seminarians.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Every fall, the vocation director for our diocese gives a list of the seminarians and their mailing addresses. I put the addresses in the bulletin and encourage our people to pray for and offer words of encouragement and maybe a little bonus as well. I also send a check to each seminarian in from each of my parishes. Granted, we are a small diocese with only about 35 active priests and 4 men right now in the seminary, so it is much easier to get to know the seminarians.

I wish I could energize our diocesan vocations man. I am the vocations contact at our little Catholic community, but somehow I can never get any direction from him.

 

[frleo]

I wish I could energize our diocesan vocations man. I am the vocations contact at our little Catholic community, but somehow I can never get any direction from him.

If you have a vocation poster with the seminarian’s name and the seminary they are attending, you should be able to look up a general mailing address for the seminary. I’m sure if you just have the seminarian’s name and the seminary address it will get to them.

I know that a couple of years ago one of our ladies “adopted” a particular seminarian. She made him a stole when he was ordained and sent a little money now and then. When she started asking me about the seminarian she was suprised to find out that he was older than she was by about 25 years. . I believe he’s 15 years older than me.

 

[vern_humphrey]

If you have a vocation poster with the seminarian’s name and the seminary they are attending, you should be able to look up a general mailing address for the seminary. I’m sure if you just have the seminarian’s name and the seminary address it will get to them.

I know that a couple of years ago one of our ladies “adopted” a particular seminarian. She made him a stole when he was ordained and sent a little money now and then. When she started asking me about the seminarian she was suprised to find out that he was older than she was by about 25 years. . I believe he’s 15 years older than me.

Yep – I know all that. But it’s like being a one-man baseball team. I’m the pitcher, catcher and infield and outfield all by my lonesome. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a coordinated Diocesan effort?

 

[frleo]

Yep – I know all that. But it’s like being a one-man baseball team. I’m the pitcher, catcher and infield and outfield all by my lonesome. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a coordinated Diocesan effort?

That would certainly help.

Another advantage that I have is that I’ve been able to have a seminarian visit a few times while they’ve been traveling past my parish. It does make a difference if you can let the people attach a real name to a real person. Occasionally I’ve had them call and ask if they can spend a few days. Of course, I couldn’t refuse that offer.

 

[vern_humphrey]

That would certainly help.

Another advantage that I have is that I’ve been able to have a seminarian visit a few times while they’ve been traveling past my parish. It does make a difference if you can let the people attach a real name to a real person. Occasionally I’ve had them call and ask if they can spend a few days. Of course, I couldn’t refuse that offer.

My idea is for parishes to “adopt” seminarians – send them newsletters, cookies, books, have them visit, take them fishing and so on. Hold fishfries to pay their way here and back, buy the stuff of their vestments and sew them here.

 

[m134e5]

In the Diocese of Little Rock we have a poster showing all our seminarians and the expected year of ordination. Pretty hard to wash out when the eyes of the diocese are on you.

Sometimes it is best for seminarians to leave. The seminary is a time of discernment- most of the men going into the seminary are in their late teens and early 20’s. People change a lot between 18 and 30. Those who leave probably won’t leave without gaining something from the experience- they will be able to use the spiritual formation they had to help them as a layman if they aren’t ordained. I would rather have a few good priests instead a bunch of bad ones.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Sometimes it is best for seminarians to leave. The seminary is a time of discernment- most of the men going into the seminary are in their late teens and early 20’s. People change a lot between 18 and 30. Those who leave probably won’t leave without gaining something from the experience- they will be able to use the spiritual formation they had to help them as a layman if they aren’t ordained. I would rather have a few good priests instead a bunch of bad ones.

I agree – but the more seminarians you have, the more good priests you will find when they are winnowed out. And priests are often made, not born, so good work with seminarians may produce good priests out of men who would have dropped out.

 

[Mt_28_19_20]

The issue for me is not how many seminarians a given diocese or religious order has, it is how many ordinations it has.

Some places seem to accept almost anyone knowing that many will wash out in the process of the seminary education and not make it to ordination.

 If this is true, not a good reflection on the discernment of some of those applying, and some of those admitting.

 Was thinking about this quote from Scott Hahn's St Paul Center's mission statement: "Our goal is to be a teacher of teachers. We want to raise up a new generation of priests who are fluent in the Bible and lay people who are biblically literate. For us, this means more than helping people to know their way around the Bible. It means equipping them to enter into the heart of the living Word of God and to be transformed and renewed by this encounter."
 My impression is that many priests have found the resources a blessing. Which is wonderful. Yet, doesn't one wonder, why such a need for priests to become fluent in the Bible. Shouldn't that be basic? And why are not more lay people fluent in Scripture? After how many years of Sunday Mass? This reflects in part on the teachers/leaders, and in part on the students/followers.
 What would people say if those admitted to, and graduating from medical school did not have a firm foundation in biologic sciences? Should these be those admitted and graduated? Should not the majority, if not all priests have learned to be fluent in Scripture? Or is giving the impression of intending to renounce marriage (celibacy) the overriding criteria? I say "impression" since, correct me if incorrect, there is no verbal vow of celibacy. Only assumed assent if one remains silent/present. Is that how vows are to be, silent, or verbal? Is that how doctors take the hypocratic oath, or do they verbally pledge the hypocratic oath? Are marriage vows verbal, or is the "I do" silent?

Michael

 

[the_phoenix]

I am fortunate to have become acquainted with a seminarian based on a vacation I took to Colorado.

Going to Mass in a little mission church up in the high country where the air is so thin that even the hearty and energetic priest seemed to have difficulty breathing, at the end of Mass he asked us all to give a donation to a certain seminarian. Based on the excellent quality of the homily, I knew I could trust this seminarian who was being so highly recommended. We were provided with his full name and address.

After procrastinating for awhile, I finally sent the seminarian a Christmas card with a modest gift.

Well, he wrote back! … And it was amazing!!

When I first picked up the envelope from my mailbox, I thought it was from a professional charity, judging by the following words on the address label:

“Abortion Harms Women
www.priestsforlife.com”

(Coincidentally, the envelope arrived on January 22nd.)

Imagine my astonishment when beneath those words, I discovered my seminarian’s name and address !!!

Opening the envelope brought further joy. The seminarian’s hand-written note ended with a Latin phrase! “Tuus in Christo sum,”.

What awesome hope for the future.

Wow.

=============================================

 

[Mt_28_19_20]

I am fortunate to have become acquainted with a seminarian based on a vacation I took to Colorado.

Going to Mass in a little mission church up in the high country where the air is so thin that even the hearty and energetic priest seemed to have difficulty breathing, at the end of Mass he asked us all to give a donation to a certain seminarian. Based on the excellent quality of the homily, I knew I could trust this seminarian who was being so highly recommended. We were provided with his full name and address.

After procrastinating for awhile, I finally sent the seminarian a Christmas card with a modest gift.

Well, he wrote back! … And it was amazing!!

When I first picked up the envelope from my mailbox, I thought it was from a professional charity, judging by the following words on the address label:

“Abortion Harms Women
www.priestsforlife.com”

(Coincidentally, the envelope arrived on January 22nd.)

Imagine my astonishment when beneath those words, I discovered my seminarian’s name and address !!!

Opening the envelope brought further joy. The seminarian’s hand-written note ended with a Latin phrase! “Tuus in Christo sum,”.

What awesome hope for the future.

Wow.

=============================================

That was indeed kind of you. And yes, God will provide for His people. This may be a blessed seminarian. Not sure I would read too much into a thank you note, many people do that, regardless of beliefs. Often I sign Peace at the end of a note. Will writing Pax convey a deeper sentiment?

Anecdotal story aside, any comments specifically addressing my comments in the previous post?

Michael