Saying yes to God was focus of priestly discernment gathering
June 23, 2025 at 12:04 p.m.
Father Christopher Dayton and priests of the Diocese concelebrate a Mass for the discernment gathering held June 10 in St. Luke Church, Toms River. Staff photoFather Christopher Dayton spoke from the heart June 10 as he offered some 20 young men his insight and encouragement about pursuing a priestly vocation.
Father Dayton told the men attending a vocation discernment gathering: “Some of you are feeling the stirrings of a call – a whisper, a nudge, something you can’t quite shake ... Maybe you thought you were alone in this call, but my hope as we gather here today is that you realize you are not alone!”
The event offered the attendees, who ranged in age from 15 to 40, a chance to meet priests and seminarians of the Diocese and hear stories on how they arrived at their own decisions to become a priest. It also offered the discerning men an opportunity to freely ask questions and obtain information about the priesthood.
Hosted by the diocesan Office of Vocations, the event began with Mass celebrated by Father Dayton in St. Luke Church, Toms River, and was followed by a BBQ on the parish campus. There were a number of priests from the Diocese in attendance, including Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar of clergy and consecrated life and director seminarians, and Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan director of vocations, as well seminarians from the Diocese.
In his homily, Father Dayton, who was ordained in 2018 and currently serves as pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, wove the theme of the day’s First Reading when reflecting on what it means to say yes to God.
“Brothers, in him, it is always yes,” Father Dayton said.
“God’s promises are not half-hearted. They are not indecisive, and when God calls , he calls us to echo that yes with our lives,” he said.
Father Dayton, in his homily, speaks on what it means to saying yes to the priesthood. Staff photoFather Dayton admitted that saying yes, many times doesn’t come easily.
“It requires silence. It requires listening. Not just with our ears, but with our soul,” he said.
When reflecting on the word discernment, Father Dayton explained that it is not about making a decision, but about being in a relationship – “a relationship where God invites you not to a career but to a total surrender.”
Father Dayton assured the men that God is not asking or expecting them to be perfect as they consider service as a priest.
Instead, he said, “he is asking you to be his.,”
“Maybe God is doing that for you right now, breaking through your distractions, your fears, your plans,” Father Dayton said, “and if he is, then my friends, don’t be afraid to say yes.”
“Say it with your whole life. Say it in the way you pray. Say it in the way you serve. Say it in the way you love,” Father Dayton said. “Because a priest is not just a man who said yes once. He is a living yes every day … in a world that desperately need to hear it.”
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Father Christopher Dayton and priests of the Diocese concelebrate a Mass for the discernment gathering held June 10 in St. Luke Church, Toms River. Staff photoFather Christopher Dayton spoke from the heart June 10 as he offered some 20 young men his insight and encouragement about pursuing a priestly vocation.
Father Dayton told the men attending a vocation discernment gathering: “Some of you are feeling the stirrings of a call – a whisper, a nudge, something you can’t quite shake ... Maybe you thought you were alone in this call, but my hope as we gather here today is that you realize you are not alone!”
The event offered the attendees, who ranged in age from 15 to 40, a chance to meet priests and seminarians of the Diocese and hear stories on how they arrived at their own decisions to become a priest. It also offered the discerning men an opportunity to freely ask questions and obtain information about the priesthood.
Hosted by the diocesan Office of Vocations, the event began with Mass celebrated by Father Dayton in St. Luke Church, Toms River, and was followed by a BBQ on the parish campus. There were a number of priests from the Diocese in attendance, including Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar of clergy and consecrated life and director seminarians, and Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan director of vocations, as well seminarians from the Diocese.
In his homily, Father Dayton, who was ordained in 2018 and currently serves as pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, wove the theme of the day’s First Reading when reflecting on what it means to say yes to God.
“Brothers, in him, it is always yes,” Father Dayton said.
“God’s promises are not half-hearted. They are not indecisive, and when God calls , he calls us to echo that yes with our lives,” he said.
Father Dayton, in his homily, speaks on what it means to saying yes to the priesthood. Staff photoFather Dayton admitted that saying yes, many times doesn’t come easily.
“It requires silence. It requires listening. Not just with our ears, but with our soul,” he said.
When reflecting on the word discernment, Father Dayton explained that it is not about making a decision, but about being in a relationship – “a relationship where God invites you not to a career but to a total surrender.”
Father Dayton assured the men that God is not asking or expecting them to be perfect as they consider service as a priest.
Instead, he said, “he is asking you to be his.,”
“Maybe God is doing that for you right now, breaking through your distractions, your fears, your plans,” Father Dayton said, “and if he is, then my friends, don’t be afraid to say yes.”
“Say it with your whole life. Say it in the way you pray. Say it in the way you serve. Say it in the way you love,” Father Dayton said. “Because a priest is not just a man who said yes once. He is a living yes every day … in a world that desperately need to hear it.”