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Recently I had a conversation
with several priest friends. We were discussing the closing of
Archbishop Quigley High School Seminary in Chicago. None of us were
surprised considering the statistic that only one graduate in the last
16 years went on to ordination. One of my friends suggested that high
school aged men are not mature enough to be thinking about the
priesthood. After college and some work experience, and then only after
some dating, would they be ready to consider a priestly vocation. It
seems that young people are having a tougher time making career and life
choices today.
Are parents overprotecting their children? Is it because there are too
many choices? Where do vocations to the priesthood come from? The
first time I heard the word "vocation" I was told it meant being called
by God for a life of special service. The call does not come from the
individual; it must come from God. In today's reading from the book of
Numbers we hear how the spirit that anointed Moses was given to the
elders, even the ones who were not present in the gathering.
Joshua was jealous for Moses, but Moses had the insight to recognize
that the gift was God's gift to give. In the same way in Mark's gospel,
John is concerned about men who were casting out demons in Jesus' name.
Jesus tells Mark, do not worry. He who is not against us, is with us.
There is no scientific way to measure a call from God. Most priests and
religious I know do not talk very much about their personal experience
of call. But every one of us had a particular story about how we had
sensed a special call from God.
Another factor in vocations
is support from the community of Christ. It's one thing to think
you have a call, but then that call must be verified in the community of
the Church. Seminary or novitiate training is important, but even before
that the parish community must recognize and affirm the qualities of a
vocation. Encourage young people to consider a life of service to our
Blessed Lord in His Church. And consider what God is calling you to do
with your talents for the good of his Church. |
