From the Pastor’s desk— April 21, 2024

Today our world is united in one prayer, World Day of Prayer for Vocations.   This day comes on the heels of our announcement that the Claretian Missionaries will be leaving Sacred Heart after 44 years due to our own lack of vocations.  This is a reality in our diocese as well, but I do not think it is because there are not vocations, but rather we could do more to help our youth and young adults understand the beauty of God’s call. 

As we pray for vocations, I would like to ask our young people when thinking about your future, don’t think so much about “What do I want to do or be one day?” but “what do you want me to do God?”  That little twist in the question will be the difference in life-long peace or regret because if we are meant to be a priest or sister and get married, we will not be happy and vice versa. 

So how does one discern between the 3 calls of marriage, priesthood/religious life, and single life?  In its simplest form it is who am I meant to serve?   A married person will serve their spouse first and the two will raise the children together.  In this call it is important to have the humility to see if one has the skills to be a good partner and parent first.   Wanting a family does not mean you are called to have a family.  Our current divorce rates show that too often people go into marriage without the talents and the calling and spouses and children suffer disastrous consequences.  

The next call to priesthood and/or religious life, is for individuals with the broader call to serve God in serving the Christian family at large.  This call is varied from diocesan priesthood and being in a religious Order for sisters, nuns, brothers, monks, and priests.  Some live in a community and some do not.  St Anthony Claret and Moter Cabrini, both described their calling as “having a heart for the world.”  A love of serving/helping others is a good sign of this vocation. 

Finally, the last calling is to the single life.  This call is not everyone who is single or cannot find a partner, but rather it includes those who choose this style of life to serve God not in a way as focused as marriage and not as wide as priesthood/religious life.   These individuals choose a life that allows flexibility in their choices of residence, job, and ministry options, as God is still a focus in all vocations. 

Each of these vocations is necessary in our world, but now more than ever the religious/priesthood vocation needs more focus because it is widely misunderstood.  The best advice we can give our youth is to share, “If God should call you to be a priest or a sister, know that we will support you” and we will.

 

 

   

 

 

 

                     

 

With a heart for Mission,
Fr. Ray