A Life Lived to the Full
My dear friends,
There is always a lot of excitement in the diocese whenever there is an ordination to the priesthood or diaconate. I share the joy of families, friends, and parishioners who rally around to celebrate the blessings of God’s providential care by giving us the new candidate. For many, it is a sign of hope and the fulfillment of a dream — a sign of hope for a new springtime in the Church that God is providing for the future pastoral care of His flock and the fulfillment of a dream for the individual candidate who is responding generously to God’s call. We could say that a genuine vocation is also God’s dream for an individual candidate. Responding with a resounding “yes” is something that gives one inner tranquility and peace of heart.
My dear friends,
There is always a lot of excitement in the diocese whenever there is an ordination to the priesthood or diaconate. I share the joy of families, friends, and parishioners who rally around to celebrate the blessings of God’s providential care by giving us the new candidate. For many, it is a sign of hope and the fulfillment of a dream — a sign of hope for a new springtime in the Church that God is providing for the future pastoral care of His flock and the fulfillment of a dream for the individual candidate who is responding generously to God’s call. We could say that a genuine vocation is also God’s dream for an individual candidate. Responding with a resounding “yes” is something that gives one inner tranquility and peace of heart.
Reflecting on a call, it all begins precisely with opening our hearts to the Mystery, hearing God’s call, and answering the call readily, fearlessly, and joyfully.
My own discernment process was not the result of a sudden total enlightenment about a religious vocation. There were many elements that factored into the final decision that spread out over years. Seeds were planted along the way. Some of the seeds or factors included the encouragement I received from parishioners and friends. My own experience of faith — a weekly Holy Hour when I could do so to converse with the Lord, being actively involved in parish life as a server and then musician, my own relationship with priests and women religious, and the surprising moments of introspection that occurred when I read Sacred Scripture or participated in retreats — helped to solidify the vocational path.
I ruminate on those moments in retrospect, knowing that there are many different pathways the Lord chooses to reach an individual, providing helpful signs and signals for consideration.
Recently, I had the joyful occasion to meet up with a group of about 15 young men seriously contemplating the priesthood/religious life. It was similar to a group of a dozen young men who went up to the Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, for a live-in weekend last fall with whom I spent some moments together. They were men who were not afraid to look into their hearts and compare where they were going in life with what the Lord may be asking of them. One could say that they were taking their life seriously and discerning the Lord’s call for them.
While these brief few thoughts focus on priestly ministry, I don’t wish to forget about religious life for both women and men, the diaconate, consecrated virginity, the married state, hermits, and those in the single state. The abundance of calls illustrates the broad universality and diversity of the Church’s mission. There is room for all. Responding generously to God’s call, we will experience a fulfillment of the dream God has for us. What a blessing!
Above all, I invite you to join me in praying for vocations in our diocese! Pray that those called can set aside the noise of daily life and hear God’s voice whispering, “Follow me!” The pathway will be laid out. Each person who answers the call will experience the amazing grace of a life lived to the full.
