Encouraging Priestly Vocations

  In June, I ordained James “Jimmy” Beran to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Father Beran was the first ordination in our diocese in five years. In the 10 years since I became bishop here, I have ordained just three priests. Thankfully, we anticipate a priestly ordination in 2026 and 2027 as well. At the end of May, I ordained nine men as permanent deacons for our diocese. In my 10 years as bishop here, I have ordained 22 men to the permanent diaconate. So, let’s reflect upon this a bit. 

  Permanent deacons are of valuable service to the Church. In the pastoral care of souls, they are able to baptize, celebrate weddings, preach homilies, preside at funerals and burials, lead Eucharistic adoration and Benediction and more. They may be appointed as parish administrators, provide pastoral counseling for those who are troubled and serve as chaplains for hospitals and correctional centers and provide campus ministry for Catholic schools and college Newman Centers. Other than celebrate Mass, hear confessions and anoint the sick, our permanent deacons will be called upon more and more to carry out pastoral ministry in our parishes. How fortunate we are to have them! 

  Four years ago, we held a “Vocations Summit” in our diocese. At that time, I wrote a new “Prayer for Vocational Discernment,” and we continually work at developing a culture of vocational awareness. Young people have generous hearts, and many want to serve the Lord in whatever vocation to which he may be calling them. But we live in uncertain times, and this instability seems to create a hesitance in many to make a firm commitment to anything, including marriage or religious life.   

  Some believe the requirement of priestly celibacy is responsible for the shortage of priestly vocations. Certainly, there are some who may desire to be married and have a family. Yet, this shortage of those in ordained ministry is not limited to the Catholic Church. One need only to go to the regional websites of major Protestant denominations to notice that a large number of their clergy are women and foreign born who have come to our country to assist them in the shortage of ministers, and all of these allow for married clergy. Young men in most religious denominations are not stepping up to become ministers in their denominations as they did in the past. 

  Jesus said in the Gospel, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Lk 10:2; Mt 9:37) This verse isn’t meant to claim that there has always been a shortage of religious vocations. Rather, it is meant to encourage us to pray for what we desire, to ask, beg and plead with the Lord for the laborers the Church needs to bring in a harvest of souls. 

  Every day I pray “for the adequate number of priests for this diocese and the means of obtaining those priests.” More young men are responding to the Lord’s call, not just to be parish priests but also to become members of religious communities. When I grew up, I hardly knew there were religious communities of men. Now, in addition to the long-standing communities of Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Redemptorists and Jesuits, there are vibrant new communities that have been attracting vocations over the past 50 years. The Church needs these vocations, too, and all that they provide to enrich our life as Catholics. 

  The effort to provide for the pastoral care of souls in our diocese requires that we invite and accept priests from foreign countries to exercise their ministry in our parishes. These are very generous priests who have left their homeland, their families and their religious communities to serve us here. Many of them have never been to our country before and so they have to make a huge adjustment to life here, even as we also adjust to them.  

  At the same time, the many priests who have come to serve us from other countries have truly enriched our diocese. People tell me all the time how much they appreciate the perspective and spiritual depth of these priests. The more we get to know them the more we grow in our appreciation for their faith and how the Lord is nourishing and developing our faith through their priestly ministry. Until more of our own young men open their hearts to a priestly vocation, the more we will need to rely on priests from other countries to provide for the pastoral care of our souls here in this country, and in our diocese. 

  In this magazine we present those most recently ordained for ministry in our diocese. At the same time, I want to encourage you to notice the fine qualities of young men in your parish who possess the characteristics of what you would hope to see in your future pastor and then share with them what specifically you find inspiring about them. This is what happened to me, in my home parish, when I was a senior in high school. Someone asked me if I had ever thought about being a priest. I said, “No, it never really crossed my mind.” This lady then said that she thought I had some qualities that would make me well-suited for priesthood. Once I explored the possibilities, I began to imagine myself helping others pursue eternal life.  

  Together, let us help young people see their own good qualities. Then, let’s encourage them to embrace a life of service, helping others assess the value of eternal life and seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. St. John Vianney, patron of diocesan priests, pray for us!