This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week. \u00a0Here is something I wrote for our bulletin followed by some links to material I have previously written on my website.<\/p>\n
The Call I stress \u201ctell them\u201d because it might be exactly the nudge they need.\u00a0 It was for me.\u00a0 Let me tell you about two consecutive days that were important in my discernment.<\/p>\n I was already having thoughts about becoming a priest but since I had only been back to church a little over a year, I discounted the thoughts. One Sunday, the pastor was away.\u00a0\u00a0 The priest filling in was in charge of the seminarians.\u00a0 I thought about talking to him after Mass but he was busy with others so I left without talking to him.<\/p>\n The next day I went to work.\u00a0 Upon arriving I found some correspondence on my desk that I read through and then took it to another person.\u00a0 I said good morning to which that person responded, \u201cGood morning, so what\u2019s this I hear you are leaving to become a priest?\u201d I was dumbfounded and stood there in silence till I finally said, \u201cWho have you been talking to?\u201d\u00a0 He responded \u201cNo one, I just had a dream last night that you were leaving to become a priest.\u00a0 I don\u2019t normally pay attention to dreams but I think you should think about it.\u201d\u00a0 I just said \u201cOk\u201d and went back to my desk.<\/p>\n As the day went on another coworker asked me if we could talk.\u00a0 This was odd because our desks were next to each other and we frequently talked.\u00a0 He then said I didn\u2019t need to reply.\u00a0 He just wanted to say he thought I should think about becoming a priest.\u00a0 That\u2019s the day I decided I needed to talk to a priest about this.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll never forget these two days. Even now, fifteen years later, I have goosebumps thinking about it.\u00a0 My point?\u00a0 If those two people hadn\u2019t said something to be who knows if I would have ever become a priest.\u00a0 Again, I invite you to ask yourself if there is somebody you know that you think might make a good sister, brother, deacon, or priest.\u00a0 If there is, tell them<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Now here are the other links:<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week. \u00a0Here is something I wrote for our bulletin followed by some links to material I have previously written on my website. The Call This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week.\u00a0 During this week I invite you to think about what sisters, brothers, deacons, or priests have …<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>This week we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week.\u00a0 During this week I invite you to think about what sisters, brothers, deacons, or priests have made a difference in your lives.\u00a0 I also invite you to ask yourself if there is somebody you know that might make a good sister, brother, deacon, or priest.\u00a0 If there is, tell them<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n