Vocations Awareness Week November 5th-11th

This week is National Vocation Awareness Week. National Vocation Awareness Week is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. 

A lot of people decide what they want to do with their life from a early age. The little kids are usally a fireman, police officer, docotors, superheros, and the like. What everyone should be asking, is what is God calling me too? That is the important thing to understand and to know, what is God calling me to. Is he calling me to the priesthood, conscrated life, religious life? Or is he calling me to be married, or even single life? These are the questions that everyone should be asking. What is God calling me to?  Click Here to Watch a video about "What's my Vocation?"

If you or anyone you know is discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life please come and talk with me or one of the priests, we would love to talk with you and help you in anyway that we can. Also we know how we should be praying for. Also if you have any questions let me know.
 
Here is a letter that I sent out to the School Families and I think it would be good you as well.

My dear St. Michael School families,

            As a newly ordained, young priest, I am excited to write this letter to you and to ask for your help.  As some of you may know, the week of November 5-11 is National Vocations Awareness Week.  This weeklong celebration is dedicated to actively promoting and praying for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.

            Each of us called to religious life have a unique and special story of how we got here.  I would like to share my story on how I was called to be a servant of the Lord.

            From an early age, I wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to help people through healing them, but God had other plans for me. It was after a retreat my junior year in high school that first God called to me.  I was getting ready for school, half asleep and going through the motions.  Suddenly, a thought popped into my head. “It will be cool to be a priest.”  I responded “No, no, no.  I do not want to be a priest; I want to be a doctor and have a family.”  So, I just shucked it off. This happened for 2 consecutive days – same time, same place, same thought. Then, the third day happened and you know how God works in threes. I was in the adoration chapel with my youth group and the same thought popped into my head “It would be cool to be a priest.” This time, I was happy and at peace with the thought, so I decided to examine the priesthood. Fast forward a year and I was planning on going off to college.  But for some reason, I emailed the Vocation Director at the time, Fr. Dat.  He told me to talk with my pastor, Msgr. Borski.  He was the rector of St. Mary’s Seminary for 19 years. I spoke with him and he said “Michael, enter the seminary.  If it is for you, it is. If not, you can always leave.” I didn’t realize that at any time. So, I applied for the seminary and the process was so easy. I could tell that this is where God wanted me to be.  Ever since then, I have been at peace with my decision and enjoyed my time at the seminary. I know God was calling me to be a priest.

            While we should always be praying for open hearts and willing spirits in our young people to listen for their calling, this week is especially important for us to foster and encourage discussion.  We can do this by asking “To what vocation in life is God calling me?”  This can help facilitate a dialogue with our kids to promote vocations, renew our prayers and support those considering vocations.

            We are also very fortunate to have a “Vocations Chalice,” This beautiful chalice is a touching reminder of our need to listen for God calling us to serve him.  Fr. Wayne and I are engaging families to take home the Vocations Chalice for 1 week and to actively pray as a family for all those considering a religious life.  Please consider being one of our families to pray with our Vocations Chalice! Just contact me and we will add you to the list.

            In closing, I would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support in my vocation and to please pray for all others that are discerning religious life.  Please take a moment to reflect on National Vocations Awareness Week and join me in praying:

O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
Send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.