The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of ordained ministry. Without priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no church. Pope Benedict XVI
On this page you will find:
St,. Michael Seminarians
Vocations Chalice Ministry
Letter from Monsignor Rossi
Archdiocese Office of Vocations
Texas Catholioc Herald
St. Michael Vocations Committee
St. Michael Catholic School Vocations Day
Serra Club of Houston
St. Michael Seminarians (Clark & Will, fl)Our parish is blesseed to have two young men entering the seminary in the fall of 2010, and on August 8, 2010 a "Sending-off" reception was held in their honor. Clark Sample 9graduate of St. Michael Catholic School) and Will Bailey will begin their studies at the University of Dallas before returning to St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. They go with the prayers and best wishes of the entire St. Michael community.
Vocations Chalice Ministry
Knights of Columbus Council 14700, St. Michael the Archangel, funded and coordinates the parish Vocations Chalice Ministry. Parishioners who would like to welcome the chalice into their homes make their requests by completing the form on the table in the church narthex. At the close of the designated weekend Mass the family or individual will be called forward by the celebrant to receive the chalice, along with a booklet of suggested prayers for use throughout the week. The chalice is then returned to the parish office by the following Friday. Those interested in receiving the Vocations Chalice can also contact Ray Sylvester at ray@stmichaelchurch.net.
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May 2009
My dear parishioners:
Throughout the year the Catholic Church sets aside certain days and asks the faithful around the world to be united in prayer for causes of intrinsic importance to the Church. We have world days of prayer for peace, for Christian unity, for missionaries, etc. Today is one such day. Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On this day the Church asks us to be attentive of the need to pray for today’s priests, deacons and religious sisters and brothers throughout the world that they may be joyful in living their vocation. We equally beg God to continue to motivate the hearts of his faithful to consider a ministry vocation so that the Church will have a sufficiency of ordained and consecrated ministers for tomorrow.
Having the privilege of serving the Church as a priest for over a quarter century, I can tell you with absolute truthfulness that the priesthood is a truly blessed, joy-filled and wonderful life. I can not imagine that I could be any happier in life than I am serving God and his Church as a priest. We priests have the holy gift of being able to serve the community in persona Christi (in the very person of Christ). We priests are blessed with wonderful parishioners, who are some of the best people that the community has to offer. And we priests are blessed with an abundance of chaste intimacy as we are invited into people’s hearts and lives as we baptize their babies, educate their children, hear their confessions, bury their loved ones, etc. For this and so many other reasons, the ordained priesthood is truly a vocation rich in wonder and joy.
As wonderful as is the life and ministry of the priest, there continues to be far too few men availing themselves to this holy profession. We, the Church, have the obligation to pray that young (and not so young) men will open their hearts to the ordained ministry and we must do what we can to encourage these men to consider the priesthood. Statistics have identified three main ingredients necessary for a man to consider the vocation of the ordained priesthood. They are:
- Family Support: Priests (as well as deacons and religious) don’t just appear out of nowhere; they come from families, like yours. The family home is the “first seminary”, the first place where future priests and religious learn to pray and are taught about God. The home needs to be the place where the values and qualities we look for in our priests are lived and nurtured. If our children don’t learn to listen to the Lord in prayer and live a virtuous life when they are young, how will they know how to listen later in life to hear if god is calling them to the priesthood? So that the Church will have a sufficiency of priests for the future, we need to make sure that our homes and the spiritual home of this parish are holy places.
- Happy Priests: No young man is going to sit in the pew and look at a grumpy, bored-looking priest in the pulpit and say, “I want to be like him!”. No, it is the example of a happy, joy-filled priest that is the best recruiter for future vocations. We priests must not only love our priesthood but we must equally ensure that our love is clearly demonstrated by the way we celebrate the sacraments, engage in ministry and relate with parishioners. Fr. Leon, Fr. Mike, Fr. Chris and I are VERY happy priests. Please continue to keep us in your daily prayers that we may always be good examples of holy and happy priests.
- Personal Invitation: A recent study of seminarians showed that the majority of men studying for the priesthood today first began to consider a vocation to the priesthood because people they respected said to them that they thought they had the qualities that would make a good priest. At times, especially in our younger years, we don’t always see the good in us that others see. It makes a profound impact in our lives when people we trust and respect tell us that they think we would make a great husband or father or priest. If we are to have a sufficiency of priests for tomorrow, we need to begin to plant the seed of priesthood in the minds and hearts of our adolescent boys today. Never shy away from telling a boy or young man that you think he would make a wonderful priest. Though he may not respond positively right away, the Lord can work with your words and help him to discern the call.
My dear parishioners, as we celebrate this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, let us beg God to continue to touch the minds and hearts of his people to consider a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life. And let us continue to pray fervently for the men and women in formation today and for the priests, deacons and religious who presently serve our Church. May God’s fullest graces be upon us so that we will always serve the Church in holiness and joy.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Msgr. Frank H. Rossi
Pastor (and very happy priest)
Archdiocese Office of Vocations
Discover the Road Less Traveled
If you are thinking about priesthood or religious life, come and join priests and other young men ages 18 and up for an evening of great food, rich prayer, Mass, music and great talks as you discern God's call in your life.
September 2, 2010
October 7, 2010
November 4, 2010
December 2, 2010
6:30-9:00pm
St. Mary's Seminary
John Paul II Building
www.houstonvocations.com
If you are thinking about priesthood or religious life, come and join priests and other young men ages 18 and up for an evening of great food, rich prayer, Mass, music and great talks as you discern God's call in your life.
September 2, 2010
October 7, 2010
November 4, 2010
December 2, 2010
6:30-9:00pm
St. Mary's Seminary
John Paul II Building
www.houstonvocations.com
Texas Catholic Herald
The Herald lists the dates and times of discernment gatherings for the archdiocese religious orders throughout the year.
www.texascatholicherald.org/
St. Michael Vocations Committee
The parish Vocations Committee supports the clergy and religious through prayer and identification of candidates for the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. 2010 committee members include: Margo Geddie, Diana Hayes, Tom Scott, Mary Caprio, David Dilger, Kathleen Wood and Jennifer Gnozdz.
Vocations Day at St. Michael School
On a designated day each spring, area clergy and religious will be on hand to visit with our students about vocations, and to share their personal stories on what led them to devote their lives to Christ.
Serra Club of Houston The Serra Club of Houston was incorporated in November, 1941, as a non-profit volunteer organization, and received its charter on April 28, 1942. It is the oldest and largest club in District 10, with about 100 members at present.
They are part of Serra International and the USA Council in Chicago, which they support financially. Their local programs support the work of the Office of Vocations of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, St. Mary’s Seminary, and Shalom Center, Inc. They are affiliated with the Holy Name Retreat Center, and Holy Rosary Church in downtown Houston.
Mission
As members of the lay vocation arm of the Church, their primary mission is to foster and affirm vocations to the ministerial priesthood and vowed religious life.
Its secondary mission is, by working and praying together, to encourage personal spiritual growth. It is an opportunity for lay Catholics to further their faith, and an invitation to those who may be considering the religious life to counsel with them and participate in our programs in fellowship.
Many of our parishioners belong to the Serra Club of Houston including: Tony Connelly, Richard Coselli, Dr. Ernest Cronin, Margo Geddie (President), Matthew Goff, Robert Herrin, Harold Hidalgo, Joseph Johnson, Anh K. & Nguyen Long, John McConn, Kirk Pfeffer, Frank Pinedo, Sidney Reynaud, Marion Spears, W.C. Smith, W.C. Smith III, Ray Sylvester, and Theo Tusa.
Serra Prayer for Vocations
O God, Who wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, grant we beseech You through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, Blessed Junipero Serra, and all the saints, an increase of laborers for your Church, fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls, through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
More information about Serra is available at: http://serraclubhouston.org/
Serra Prayer for Vocations
O God, Who wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, grant we beseech You through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, Blessed Junipero Serra, and all the saints, an increase of laborers for your Church, fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls, through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
More information about Serra is available at: http://serraclubhouston.org/