May the Lord give you Peace! The Catholic Church in the U.S.A are this week celebrating 'National Vocations Awareness Week'. It began with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord last Sunday and ends tomorrow January 16th. There have been many excellent resources posted on the internet but one that I found particularly interesting was submitted by Father David Toups, interm director of the Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Father Toups offers "Ten Things", steps Catholics can do to promote vocations to priesthood and religious life and I was particularly taken by steps 6ff. I pray that those discerning their vocation at this time, particularly those who read this blog will find these steps helpful.
For those considering a vocation:
6. Practice the faith. We will need to be reminded that the whole point of our lives is to grow in a deep, intimate and loving relationship with God. This is the first step for any young person desiring to discern any call in life.
7. Enter into the Silence. Silence is key to sanity and wholeness. We can only "hear" the voice of God if we are quiet. Take out the ear buds of your iPhone, iPod, and iTunes and listen to God, the great I AM. Young people should try to spend 15 minutes of quiet prayer each day - this is where you can begin to receive clear direction in your lives.
8. Be a good disciple. Some bishops say, "We do not have a vocation crisis; we have a discipleship crisis." Young people can become true followers of Jesus Christ by serving those around them. By discovering your call to discipleship, you also discover your particular call within the Church.
9. Ask God. Ask God what He wants for your life and know He only wants what is good for you. If, in fact, you are called to the priesthood or consecrated life, it will be the path to great joy and contentment.
10. In the immortal words of a famous sneaker manufacturer: "Just do it!" If you feel that God is inviting you to "try it out," apply to the seminary or religious order. Remember, the seminary or convent (or Friary), is a place of discernment. You will not be ordained or asked to profess vows for many years, providing ample opportunity to explore the possibility of a call to priesthood or religious life.
God bless you and if you want to contact me please do not hesitate to do so at:
Sincerely,
Pat
Latest News
11 Day National Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Led By: Fr Bernard Jones O.F.M Commissary of the Holy Land.
To mark the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order a major study of the history of the Irish Franciscans was published in November 2009. Entitled The Irish Franciscans, 1534-1990 (Four Courts Press) the work examines all aspects of the life of the friars and their impact in Ireland and on the Continent.
“Irish Eyes are Smiling” - Charity Album from Fr. Tom Russell OFM in aid of The LARCC Cancer Support Centre. Fr. Tom Russell OFM is an Irish Franciscan working in their well known community at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. He has recorded a charity album in aid of The LARCC Cancer Support Centre based near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The album, “Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, contains Irish classics such as; My Lagan Love, The Foggy Dew and Roisin Dubh.
May the Lord give you Peace! Is God calling you to rebuild His Church? For those discerning their vocation at this time you have a great example in St. Francis of Assisi. Our Founder, only a young man, a very radical youth decided to live the 'Gospel Way' of life at a time when the Church was in even greater turmoil than it is now. The decision was not easy and as he contemplated his action he "tossed and turned in his mind whether he would be able to coninue on the path God seemed to be leading him". Thankfully for the Church Francis responded to God's call.
May the Lord give you Peace! At present there are six men discerning their 'calling' with me. During discernment it is good to reflect on the 'Call' stories from Scripture. I suggest that you reflect on this story - 'God Calls Samuel'.
Fr Gearóid Ó Conaire, OFM, tells of a little Vietnamese boy with AIDS who captured the hearts of those who knew him.This is the story of Tam, an eightyear- old Vietnamese boy who died of AIDS. As well as drawing our attention to a phenomenon affecting two
million children with the HIV virus, Tam taught Fr John Phuong Dinh Toai, a Camillian priest, and all those who cared for him profound spiritual lessons in generosity and detachment. I met Fr John in Rome at a conference I moderated for Caritas Internationalis and the US Embassy to the Holy See between 14th – 16th October 2009. The theme of the conference was on securing better access to early testing and treatment for children living with HIV or HIV/TB co-infection and to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Experts from the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, the famous Vatican children’s hospital (Bambino Gesù) and the Health Commission of the Superiors General were involved in a packed three days of presentations and discussions.
Lucky to be alive, The friars in Haiti have experienced the horror of the earthquake. The day of the earthquake it was as if a bomb had exploded. We brought first aid to many people. I saw terrible scenes.
Irish Franciscan History The Irish Franciscans, 1534-1990, was launched in Dublin before Christmas. Published by Four Courts Press, Edel Bhreathnach, Joseph MacMahon, OFM, and John McCafferty are the editors of this major publication. 2009 was the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order.
Charity Album from Fr Tom Russell, OFM, in aid of the LARCC Cancer Support Centre Fr Tom Russell, OFM, is an Irish Franciscan working in the well-known community at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. He has recorded a charity album in aid of the LARCC Cancer Support Centre based near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The album, Irish Eyes Are Smiling, contains Irish classics such as My Lagan Love, The Foggy Dew and Roisin Dubh.
In November Fr Liam McCarthy, OFM, accompanied back to Scotland the body of Br Joe O’Toole who tragically died in a car accident in Zimbabwe. In his homily at the funeral in Glasgow Liam spoke fondly of Joe and his contribution to Franciscan mission.
Lived together, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) form a 'caring for creation' spirituality, a way of living life in the Spirit. As followers of St Francis of Assisi, we Franciscans feel ourselves called to live this spirituality, and by caring for our sister-mother earth and for the relationships between all people on earth, we work to bring about the Kingdom of God, where all are valued and cherished. When Christians pray the words of Christ, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are praying that each of these values – Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation – bears fruit as Jesus desired.
