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I pray this note finds you happy, healthy, and holy as we enter into a new calendar year. This past weekend JohnPaul Stedwill, the seminarian of our diocese who was assigned to our parish last summer, stopped by for a visit and served our 4pm Mass. It was wonderful for Fr. Matt and me, as well as our parishioners, to catch up with him. We look forward to JohnPaul’s arrival in late January, as he will spend the semester with us during his internship! Ben Schoonmaker, the seminarian who was with us last year for his internship, is doing very well. He was recently able to spend some time in the Holy Land with his classmates in prayer and study as they prepare for their ordination to the Transitional Diaconate this May.
On a related note, Patrick Deneen, a son of the parish who is a seminarian for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, is home for Christmas break. He has been a regular at our weekday morning Masses. Patrick, JohnPaul, and Ben serve as wonderful reminders to us that God has a plan for each of our lives. I am confident that there are others in our parish who have a call to discern priesthood and religious life. May we as a parish family work to build a culture of vocations where our youth are open to these beautiful and fulfilling vocations.
To build this culture, let us pray for God’s will for all those in our lives not yet settled into a vocation. We can take this a step further when given the opportunity to ask them what they think God is calling them to. We could follow-up by asking if they have ever thought about priesthood or religious life. Regardless of any answer, let us assure them of our prayers and continue to pray for Patrick Deneen and the seminarians of our diocese that they continue to discern God’s will in their lives.
In Christ,
Fr. Schultz
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