Camino pilgrimage update
I have good news to report! As of today, there are 18 men registered to attend the pilgrimage along the ancient Christian trail popularly known as El Camino (The Way). Among the men attending, I have 12 discerners, three seminarians, two priests and even one Bishop! Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon has answered the call to join our ‘walking pilgrimage’ through northern Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela, where St. James the Apostle was buried 2,000 years ago.
I still have 12 openings, so if you are a single man between the ages of 18-40 and are still discerning your vocation, this pilgrimage is designed specifically for you. Like the disciples along the road to Emmaus, we’ll have the grace of “recounting what took place along the way and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” The dates are June 10-19, 2013. More information about the pilgrimage is found on the homepage of our website: www.detroitpriest.com.
Help needed
I have several other men, in addition to the 18 mentioned above, who are very interested in this pilgrimage but lack the funds to register. The total cost per person is $2,200. Are you someone who might be able to donate to help a young man to have this faith-filled experience? To date, I have received more than $7,000 in donations, but much more is needed. Thank you for your generous support, both financially and spiritually.
For more information about registering or helping with financial assistance, please contact me at [email protected], (313) 237-5875 or visit www.detroitpriest.com.
350,000 U.S. vocations to the priesthood?
Do we have a shortage of vocations to the priesthood in the United States? The answer is an emphatic and resounding “no!” And this is confirmed by a newly released study, “Consideration of Priesthood and Religious Life Among Never-Married U.S. Catholics,” by the Georgetown University-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), and commissioned by the U.S. Bishop’s Secretariat for the Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. It revealed that among never-married Catholics, 3 percent of men and 2 percent of women have seriously considered a religious vocation.
“The good news is that more than 500,000 never-married men and women have seriously considered a vocation to the priesthood or religious life,” said Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis and chairman of the CCV Committee. “The challenge is to pastor and guide these individuals more effectively. This will require greater and more consistent encouragement from others, particularly within the family, and a more urgent focus on access to Catholic education for our young people.”
It is also worth noting the crucial role a priest can play in helping a young man discern his vocation. According to an annual survey CARA conducts with the newly ordained priests in the U.S., 80 percent regularly report that it was a priest who had the most significant influence in his discernment. Family and friends aren’t far behind at 60 percent.
The influence they speak about emanates from either their example or personal invitation. So if we have more than 350,000 potential candidates for the priesthood, where are they? The answer is quite simple: they are waiting for our invitation to “Be not afraid” and follow their call from the Lord. I would venture to guess that some of these 350,000 can be found in your classroom, youth group, club, team, household or parish. Do you have the courage to invite them? The full study is available at www.detroitpriest.com.
Detroit seminarians
We currently have 43 seminarians in formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit. These men come from 37 different parishes from within the AOD. Thirty-six are studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, three are studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, two are studying at Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Boston (a seminary for second-career candidates), and two are on a pastoral year in local parishes.
While these are good numbers, with an archdiocese of our size, a more realistic number should be around 75. We have a very strong foundation with which to build upon, but it will take the prayers, worthy efforts, and most importantly, the bold invitations to follow Christ, of all 1.3 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit to witness any significant change. I am most confident that if we remember to see ourselves for who we really are — “children of God” — more vocations to a holier married life, single life, priesthood or religious life will naturally follow.
Vocation programs in the Archdiocese of Detroit
The Office of Priestly Vocations offers many programs to help men and women better discern their calling from the Lord. A full schedule of events can be found on our website, but I thought it might be helpful to share some of what we do throughout the year:
- Junior High Vocation Awareness Day — we have five of these per year, where 300 seventh-grade students spend the day at Sacred Heart Major Seminary learning more about the vocations of priesthood and religious life.
- Senior High Vocation Awareness Day — we have one of these per year for high school students.
- Discernment Weekends and Discernment Overnights — we have three weekends for men ages 18-55 and two overnights for men in high school. All of these take place at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and provide the opportunity for a young man to see all aspects of the seminary from the “inside.”
- Day of Discernment with the Archbishop — a daylong event of reflection, prayer and talks from Archbishop Allen Vigneron for anyone who is seeking more insight into discernment, the seminary or the priesthood.
- Evening Prayer and Dinner with the Archbishop — priests from the archdiocese invite men from their parish, school or ministry to join them at the seminary for an evening of prayer and vocation talks from seminarians and the archbishop.
- Vocation talks and presentations for parishes, schools and religious education programs.
- Visits to parishes on the weekends for a vocation homily.
- Ongoing development and communication through our website, newsletter, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages.
During this Year of Faith and especially for National Vocations Awareness Week, which is Jan. 13-19, I ask for your continued prayers and support for the men and women from Detroit in formation as a seminarian, candidate, novice or postulant, and that many more will have the courage and faith to follow in their footsteps. May they be open to the challenge as stated by Blessed Pope John Paul II: “The Lord has given you a heart open to the great horizons; do not be afraid to commit your life completely to the service of Christ and His Gospel!’
Fr. Tim Birney is Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Contact him at (313) 237-5875, [email protected], or visit www.detroitpriest.com.
