Our Holy Father Pope Francis has called on the Church community to foster and nurture vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. He noted that vocations grow within the Church, and stated, “Candidates gratefully contemplate the mediation of the community as an essential element for their future. They learn to know and to love their brothers and sisters who pursue paths different from their own, and these bonds strengthen in everyone the communion which they share.”
At Saint Brigid, we strive as a community to assist seminarians as they discern a vocation to the priesthood and as they continue their training and formation. Last year, with the assistance of our prayers and support, one of our Saint Brigid parishioners, Robbie Cotta, was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
This summer we welcomed Bryan Roberts as he paused in his seminary studies to gain some additional experience in parish ministry. He is currently studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida. Bryan was a parishioner at Saint Brigid during his high school years and received the Sacrament of Confirmation here. He later moved with his parents to Florida.
Bryan is in the midst of his summer assignment at Saint Brigid. In addition to assisting at our liturgies, Bryan has also assisted in our Vacation Bible School, Confirmation conferences, and in many of our youth activities, including our youth service trip to Tennessee. He is currently participating in various aspects of our adult faith formation programs. He will be with us until late July and then return to his seminary studies in August.
We are invited to reflect on the following “Prayer for Seminarians” provided by Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Louisiana:
Oh God, hear our prayer for the men you have chosen to follow in your footsteps.
Teach them humility and fidelity to unselfishly help others.
May their devotion to Our Blessed Mother, Queen of Vocations increase, enabling them to do your will.
Strengthen their prayer life so that they may grow spiritually without worldly distractions.
Give them courage and perseverance in their studies.
May the Holy Spirit lighten their struggles with their vocations, until they know the joy of being a priest.
We ask this through Christ your Son. Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are encouraged to pray for Bryan and all seminarians as they continue on their journey of faith.
Bryan with The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)