By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

After serving nearly 12 years in parish and school ministry, Father Michael Wallack has been asked to lead the Diocese’s efforts to foster vocations to the priesthood.  Having served both as a pastor, parochial vicar and high school chaplain, he knows a bit about the life he is inviting prospective priests to consider.

“I am happy and excited that the Bishop has the confidence in me,” Father Wallack said.  In addition to his vocations role, he will also serve as chief of staff, secretary to the Bishop and episcopal master of ceremonies.  The appointments were made Sept. 13.

Ordained a priest in 2004, Father Wallack said he recognizes the gravitas of his new vocations role and appreciates the opportunity he has to positively impact the future of the Diocese. Having served on the diocesan vocation recruitment board, he has been involved with various awareness initiatives, such as discernment days in which priests would meet with men and address their questions on the priesthood.  When he was chaplain in Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, and in Holy Cross Academy, Delran, Father Wallack would talk up vocations with the male students.

Father Wallack, who has served as parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Red Bank, and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and as pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, will have the support of newly-appointed assistant directors, Father Daniel Swift, pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, and Father Garry Koch, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.  Together the team has already begun to develop plans to raise  the possibility of a vocation with those in the schools, parishes and on college campuses.

 “Jesus set the example when he told his apostles to be fishers of men,” Father Wallack said. “We can’t sit around and wait for them (new priests) to come to us.”

One new initiative that Father Wallack has set into motion is hosting gatherings in parishes that bring priests, seminarians and men who are thinking about the priesthood together for Mass; a sports activity such as volleyball or indoor soccer; a meal; shared conversation in which seminarians tell about their own vocation experience, and viewing the film, Fishers of Men.

The next event is scheduled for Jan. 21 in Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune. Father Wallack noted that Mass will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. with an indoor soccer match to follow.

Other planned events include monthly discernment meetings in parishes around the Diocese and scheduling events in the Catholic high schools and colleges.

“Anywhere they let us in, we’ll go,” he said, then shared that another area of focus will be on promoting vocations in parishes and among families.

Speaking of how important it is to Bishop O’Connell that vocations flourish in the Diocese and the role of families in the process, Father Wallack related part of a vocations message from Bishop O’Connell:

“The Catholic family home is where vocations to the priesthood and religious life begin.  Without the support and encouragement of faith-filled parents, the Lord’s call can easily fall on ears not able to discern his message. The world offers too many distractions to young people as it is.  If parents don’t see the value of a vocation coming from the Catholic family and at least put the idea ‘out there’ with them, their children certainly won’t see the value.  The idea of priesthood or religious life has to be a possibility presented to Catholic young people within the Catholic family.”