Maternity B. V. M. Church at 9220 Old Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19115 US - Vocations: Will You Answer God's Call
| Vocations: Will You Answer God's Call |
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK... My Dear Maternity Family, Home is where the heart is and the heart of a parish is each family. The Church calls the family, the "domestic church," the church of the home. It is in the home that we first hear God’s name in prayer, learn about God and His love for us. Through the family we are taught the Ten Commandments. We learn how to pray the rosary and prepare for our First Sacraments: Reconciliation (First Penance), First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The home and family is the foundation for our relationship with God. I am grateful that my parents provided a wonderful home for me, my sister and brothers and first introduced us to our Catholic faith. It was the foundation for my vocation to the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The fact that my parents loved each other, their children, practiced their faith, and remained faithful in their marriage gave me the courage to study for the Priesthood. Their commitment enables me to be a good priest. God willingly this May 19th, I will celebrate my 25th Anniversary as a Catholic priest. I am very humbled by this awesome gift and responsibility to be a priest. I pray for the grace of perseverance so that I may continue to be a faithful, good and holy priest. I am proud to be a Catholic priest. I am proud to be a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. And I am proud to be your pastor where I serve with other fine men who are faithful and dedicated Catholic priests. Taken together our years of service as Catholic Priests total 173 years. Father McCole - 46 years of Priestly service Father Fox - 46 years of Priestly service Monsignor Witkowski - 42 years of Priestly service Father Majoros - 25 years of Priestly service Father Accardi - 14 years of Priestly service Home is where the heart is and the heart of a parish is each family. Each of us priests came from loving and faith-filled families that nurtured our vocations and gave them flesh. Here in Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish we have over 5,000 families. Think of how many vocations to the Priesthood, Consecrated Religious Life, the Diaconate, committed Married Life and Dedicated Single can be nourished through the families of Maternity B.V.M. Think of how the sacraments are celebrated to help us grow in holiness and attain eternal life. Think of how the Good News of God’s love is preached, proclaimed, taught and lived in order to help us overcome evil and sin. Live your faith! Love your faith! Share your faith, especially with your children. Pray for vocations so that we may have the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, and the Church. Sincerely yours in Christ, Father George A. Majoros WILL YOU ANSWER GOD’S CALL? A vocation is a calling from God. He has chosen each of us to love the world in a particular way–through a particular state in life. Some of us are called to a closer union and imitation of Jesus Christ as priests. In his message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope John Paul II declared, "A priest is called, in fact, to act in persona Christi, and so re-live the same condition of Jesus at the Last Supper, being willing, like Jesus, to love until the end, even to the giving of his life." Others are called to the consecrated religious life, living out their vocation through obedience to a professed religious community. Others are called to the single state as consecrated lay working in the service of the Church through apostolates, movements, or through the service to others in some form. There are those who are single in order to care for family members, to give themselves more completely to a profession, or to serve other honorable ends. Still others are called to the marriage covenant, through which the love between spouses for their children and each other is how God has called them to love the world. Whatever the state to which we are called, the Church is clear in explaining that one state is not better or more holy than the other. Each state is vital to the growth of the Church and each is interdependent on the other. Each depends on the other to such a degree that together we answer the call from God as a Church. Come! Follow Me...
There is a little prayer I say everyday that sums up exactly how I feel about my call to the priesthood.
You made me a Priest, Lord.
It was your idea, after all.
And it was kind of you
To pretend that you needed me.
I would never claim to have been God’s best choice. I would never claim that I am worthy to share in His Holy Priesthood. Who am I that I should have the privilege of standing at the altar in Christ’s place and pronouncing the words of consecration that transform bread and wine into His Body and Blood? Who am I that I should forgive sins in His Name?
All of us who have responded to Christ’s call know that our only claim to fame is the fact that we had the courage to answer the call. But our vocations was His idea, after all. Despite our weaknesses and sinfulness, we come to realize very quickly that in calling us Christ was not looking for a magic wand to carry out His work, but simply a hammer and chisel to slowly fulfill his will.
In our day, unfortunately, there is a serious decline in the number of young men entering the seminary to prepare for the Priesthood. There are reasons for this, of course. But one fact remains constant, and that is that Christ is still calling young men as often as he always did. Priests are needed more today than ever. But obviously, young men are not answering the call. Parents are not encouraging their sons to enter the seminary.
This May, for example, there will be only four young men from one million, four hundred thousand Catholics in the Archdiocese. Something is wrong. More young men have to hear the call. Pray that this happens.
St. Charles Seminary: Discernment Nights and Retreats
Overbrook Weekend Retreats
Next scheduled Retreat is April 2, 3, 4, 2004 These weekends are most helpful for those young men, ages 16 to 40, who are discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood and would like some more information about seminary life, prayer, and how to continue the discernment process. The retreats will be held at Saint Charles Seminary beginning with dinner at 5:15 PM on Friday and ending 12 Noon on Sunday. There will be conferences, panel discussions, quiet time, free time for gym or pool, and participation in the community prayer of the seminary.
Saint Charles Overnights
Next Scheduled Overnight: May 14 & 15
Registration begins at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 14 and concludes around 12 noon on Saturday, May 15. This overnight will include attending the Ordination to the Priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul.
These overnights give the young man, age 16 to 40, the opportunity to join the seminarians of Saint Charles when they are having one of their periodic Days of Recollection. The participants will join the seminarians for conferences and for liturgical and communal prayer. These overnights will also afford some time for private prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and quiet reflection as well as group discussions with other participants, priests and seminarians from Saint Charles.
Tuesday Night at Overbrook for High School Young Men
These nights are designed to give high school age young men the opportunity to tour Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, meet some of the seminarians of Saint Charles, learn about the life of the seminarian and also learn about the life of a priest.
WHEN: Tuesday Nights - (usually held monthly, next scheduled one is March 9, 2004)
SCHEDULE: 4:30 - 9:00 PM
Arrival by 4:30 PM - Tour of Saint Charles Seminary - Dinner with the Seminary Community -Evening Prayer - Discussion with Priests and Seminarians - Mass - Refreshments - Departure by 9 PM.
Spend a Day at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Learn firsthand about the life of a seminarian and also learn about the life of a priest with this overnight visit to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. The purpose of this program is to give young men, ages 16 to 40, the opportunity to experience a typical day in the life of a seminarian.
DATES: Tuesday and Wednesday, March 16-17, 2004
The schedule for Spend a Day at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary overnight is the following:
Tuesday
7:00 PM.....Registration
7:30 PM.....Opening session with a prayer, talk, social, concluding with Night Prayer.
Wednesday
7:00 AM.....Morning Prayer
7:30 AM.....Mass followed by breakfast - participants accompany seminarians for day (sit in on classes, participate in various activities of seminarian’s daily routine)
4:00 PM.....Reassemble as a group for talk and discussion.
5:00 PM.....Evening Prayer followed by dinner and departure.
For more information and to register for all programs, contact: Reverend John F. Babowitch, Vocation Director for Diocesan Priesthood
will be glad to provide further information and register you by phone at the Vocation Office: (610) 667-5778.
Father Babowitch's email: frjbabo@adphila.org