By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
The cards are coming into the Office of Vocations, and it won’t be long before Father Christopher Colavito, director, reviews them and starts responding through phone calls and emails. The Called By Name vocations initiative is underway in the Diocese of Trenton.
On April 25-26, faithful from around the Diocese were given cards and asked to submit names of men they felt should be invited to consider a vocation. The program was held on Good Shepherd Sunday weekend, which coincided with the observance of National World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
As of May 7, Father Colavito said that he has received 60 names for nomination from 17 parishes. “There are still plenty of parishes to hear from,” he said, and is pleased that of the 60, three contacts have “positively responded and are now meeting with me in discernment.”
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., offered his support of Called By Name during the Mass he celebrated on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26, in Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, Beverly.
“Jesus tells us that the shepherd calls his sheep by name – not generically, not anonymously but personally,” he said, speaking of the program’s title.
“Sometimes a person first hears God’s call because someone else – someone who sees their gifts – speaks a word of encouragement,” the Bishop said. “Shepherds do not simply appear; they are called forth by the community, supported by the community and prayed for by the community.”
“By participating in the Called By Name program today, you help the Church recognize and encourage those whom the Good Shepherd may be inviting to serve his flock in a special way. Your prayer, your nomination, your encouragement may be the very thing that helps someone say ‘yes’ to God,” he said.
Parish Feedback
Father Thomas Vala, pastor of St. Clement Parish, Matawan, said he thinks the program “is very important and is a great way to promote and generate interest in vocations.”
To better inform his parishioners, he published Bishop O’Connell’s letter about Called By Name in the parish bulletin the previous week. He also discussed the program and his own path to priesthood during the weekend Masses.
Father Vala recalled that when he was young, his parish priest spoke to him about his qualities – personality, kindness, gentleness – that were important for a priest to have.
“If he hadn’t suggested the priesthood to me, I don’t’ think I would have ever thought about it in a serious manner,” Father Vala said. “I believe there are Catholic men who don’t recognize their gifts that would make them a candidate for the priesthood but would consider it if someone else brought it to their attention.”
Reality Check
For several weeks leading up to April 25-26, Father Edward Blanchett, pastor of Visitation Parish, Brick, and episcopal vicar of Ocean County, posted information on the parish website and Facebook pages and made announcements during Masses.
“I think that the people need to have these opportunities repeatedly” before considering who God might be calling, he said.
“No one,” he emphasized, “is born a priest, and we hear it at different times in our lives.” Father Blanchett pointed out that while he was 35 when he began thinking of the priesthood, his parish weekend assistant, Father Will Dunlap, heard the call when he was 3 years old.
“Being called by name never gets stale or irrelevant; it happens when it is most needed,” he said. “Our task is to be open – and to help others – to hearing that call.”
Along with using the Called By Name graphic in the parish bulletin and printing the Bishop’s letter, Father Jim Grogan, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, said he and Father Jack Bogacz, parochial vicar, used Good Shepherd Sunday to speak about vocations and the program.
“Every vocation begins with God and grows with someone asking, ‘Have you ever considered the priesthood?’” Father Grogan said.
Father Jorge Bedoya, pastor of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, said, “I believe there are so many good men who want to be more faithful disciples, but they are afraid to take the first step because they feel dismayed as they look to the future.
“We need to encourage them and accompany them with spiritual direction,” Father Bedoya said. “Jesus started his ministry by personally inviting a small group of ordinary men to follow him. It was a friendly invitation, and we should do the same.”