Our Holy Father Pope Leo has called on the Church community to foster and nurture vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops noted, “Pope Leo has stated that ‘God’s love, mercy, and goodness lie at the foundation of every vocation.’ He has called for the Church to create conditions that allow the gift of vocation to be embraced, nourished, protected, and accompanied, so that it may bear abundant fruit. This includes the commitment of families, parishes, religious communities, bishops, priests, catechists, educators, and all the faithful to create a supportive environment for vocations.”
As we reflect on these sentiments, we at Saint Brigid strive as a community to assist seminarians as they discern a vocation to the priesthood and continue their training and formation. This summer, we welcome William Brock as he pauses in his seminary studies to gain some additional experience in parish ministry. He is currently studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In addition to assisting at our liturgies, William will also assist in our Vacation Bible School, Confirmation conferences, and in many of our youth activities, including our youth service trip to Alabama. He will also participate in various aspects of our adult faith formation programs. William will be with us until late July, and then return to his seminary studies in August.
As we welcome William, we are encouraged to reflect on the following “Prayer for Seminarians” provided by St. John Seminary in Boston:
O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest,
lead our seminarians in Your unerring footsteps
so that they may become priests who are models of purity,
possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice.
Teach them generosity and detachment from worldly goods;
but above all, teach them to know You and to love You, the One and Only Eternal High Priest.
Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are encouraged to pray for William and all seminarians as they continue on their journey of faith.