By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
When it comes to vocations to the priesthood, Father Christopher Colavito is ready to talk to just about everyone.
In the eight months since becoming the Diocese’s new director of the Office of Vocations, Father Colavito has been visiting parishes and getting the message out that “all of us have skin in this game” to encourage and pray for young men to consider the priesthood. During his parish visits he emphasizes the “everyone” to whom he is speaking and not just the potential one or two young men in the congregation who might be called to a vocation.
An Honest Assessment
“I speak to everyone because we have to remember that we are all in need of priests,” Father Colavito said, pointing out that the young man who is prayed for today might become the priest who anoints a person nearing the end of his or her earthly journey.
Part of Father Colavito’s promotion approach involves helping parishioners realize the impact their prayers may have in fostering a vocation. He does so by drawing a parallel between a potential vocation and the experience of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“When God created Mary, she was predestined to be the mother of Jesus Christ,” he said. “But Mary still needed to have God’s will revealed to her; she needed to say yes.”
“The same thing applies to vocations,” Father Colavito continued.
“The men who are created by God to be priests are predestined to be priests,” he said, “but that purpose from our creation must be revealed to us at some point in our life. And when that happens, we must say yes or say no. We have that free will to say yes or no.”
What Vocation Crisis?
In his presentations, Father Colavito said many are surprised to hear him say that he believes there is not a vocation crisis.
“I believe God provides as many priests that we need at any time,” he said.
Where the concern is, he added, is in the response.
“More men say no to God’s will than yes,” he said. He added that while many think the celibacy issue and the clergy abuse scandal are obstacles standing in the way of a man responding to a call to priesthood, surveys have indicated the reason why young men don’t say yes is because of the lack of support from family and friends.
“Imagine an 18-year-old living in a culture where being a Catholic priest is not popular and then having their own parents and grandparents tell them not to waste their life on the priesthood of Jesus Christ,” he said.
“What do you think the majority are going to do? They are going to say no,” Father Colavito said. He reiterated that when speaking with congregations, he tells them that if they meet someone who says they are being called to the priesthood, they should be supportive and encouraging.
“If we do anything to dissuade them from the priesthood, we are going against God’s will, his very purpose for creating them,” Father Colavito said.
Proactive Measures
Father Colavito has fortunately been able to use some of the marketing and communication skills from his past life in politics to create a new slogan and image and build an engaging vocation awareness campaign around it.
Thinking of the iconic “Trenton Makes, The World Takes” sign on the well-known Lower Trenton Bridge between Morrisville, Pa., and Trenton, he adapted it to simply say: Trenton Makes Priests. This is the slogan that now appears on an image of the Trenton bridge that he has made a focal point of his efforts. He’s had prayer cards printed: on one side is a prayer for vocations written by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the “Trenton Makes Priests” image on the other side. The card also contains Father Colavito’s email address, ccolavito@dioceseoftrenton.org, and phone number, 609-406-7448.
Using social media has also been helpful in getting the word out about vocations, Father Colavito said, noting Instagram seems to be the best platform for reaching young people. He also wants to build an online video library that highlights various aspects of the life of a priest and the experiences of seminarians. The videos will not just focus on liturgy but also on hobbies and personal interests, he said.
Along with visiting parishes on the weekends, Father Colavito visits schools during the week. He’s been to a few Catholic high schools and college campus ministries and wants to extend outreach to grammar school students, homeschoolers and Confirmation-age students in religious education programs. He said his high school visits to date have included meeting with the junior and senior boys. He shares his vocation stories and allows them to ask questions about priests: “Can they have pets?” “Why do they wear black?” “Can you have a job?” and “Can you be married?”
Father Colavito said he’s committed to the mission of helping men to respond to their call.
“I believe that when God wants what he wants, he can be pretty persistent,” and that includes his calling men to the priesthood, Father Colavito said. “I’ll do all that I can to support anyone who is called to the priesthood.”
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Father Colavito is shown during his December visit to St. Rose High School, Belmar, where he’s addressing students about vocations to the priesthood. Mike Ehrmann photo