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October 31, 2019Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Catholic Church in the United States is celebrating National Vocation Awareness Week. It is a good reminder that we all have a vocation, a call from God to live in a specific way our Christian lives. As baptized people, we all are called to holiness, that is to live as close as possible the teachings and virtues of Jesus Christ, a path that brings us to God. Furthermore, in the Church we also have four specific vocations that we can discern to follow: religious life, priesthood, permanent diaconate, married life, or a consecrated single life. Today I will speak about the priesthood.
You have seen priests around: priests in black, in street clothes, in liturgical vestments at Mass, and wearing habits. Though there is only one priesthood, this vocation can be lived in two main ways: diocesan and religious priesthood.
Diocesan priests serve in a parish community and report to the bishop, who leads the diocese. Even though there could be a few exceptions, these priests live in a parish house called rectory with other priests or alone, according to the parish. The diocesan priests are usually assigned within their diocese. For instance, the priests who are part of the Archdiocese of Chicago are always assigned to parishes in Cook and Lake counties, with a few exceptions.
Religious priests are part of congregations or religious communities. They usually live together in convents or houses. Many of them wear a habit, or long robe that distinguishes them from diocesan priests and other religious communities. For instance, the Dominicans wear a white habit; the Franciscans in Marytown wear a gray habit. Other religious communities might wear black, like diocesan priests, or no specific attire at all. Not all members of those religious communities are ordained to the priesthood; some are brothers or friars. Religious priests work in a specific ministry within the Church, such as education, serving the poor, leading retreats, and administering parishes. Some religious priests are missionaries who work in different parts of the country and the world. Many women are also part of these religious communities, such as religious sisters. Others belong to the many lay institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.
The growing number of challenges that the Church is facing today might keep people away from organized religion and communities. However, as a priest, I have to continue to encourage all Catholic men to consider the vocation to the priesthood. We know that not all of them will become priests, but at least they have asked themselves and God if He is calling them to this particular vocation. Most likely, several people will think of other solutions to the lack of priests. However, until those possible solutions become real, we must continue to encourage, especially young people, to discern if God is calling them to become priests.
To the young guys in our parish and all parishioners, I must say that the priesthood is packed with many beautiful moments, but also difficult ones, as in any other path of life. It is very rewarding to bring Christ to people and help people come closer to Christ. It is amazing to hear life stories in the confessional, at the hospital, at the funeral home, in the streets, in the narthex, and in the school.
It is challenging to be a priest today in the midst of abuse scandals, priest shortages, and people walking away from the Church and organized religion. But like any other Catholic, the priest finds strength in God, his faith, and his community. It is for the greater glory of God that we become priests with all that it entails. Families should be more supportive of the decision of their children to follow God’s call because sometimes it is at home where the greatest challenges arise, at least not in my case, but in the case of many other guys.
To all of you who will ask yourselves if God is calling you to the priesthood, I ask you to have in mind a word: discernment. This is a beautiful process that will bring you toward making a choice. I suggest that you to pray, asking the Lord to guide you. Then, find a spiritual director, a priest or consecrated person who can listen to you and help you understand the movements of the Spirit within you. Also, get involved in the parish. Get to know your community and allow them to get to know you. Talk to your pastor or a priest who can tell you about the process. Then, attend vocational diocesan meetings and come-and-see meetings at the seminary. Finally, be very patient. This process doesn’t make you a priest in a short time. It requires perseverance and love for the Church. Trust the process and allow God to help you discern if that is your vocation.
And to all parishioners, please continue to pray for more vocations in the Church. Don’t pray just for an increase in numbers, but in quality, that whoever becomes a priest, a religious man or woman, a permanent deacon, a married couple, or a consecrated lay person, will live a life of holiness, the holiness that all Christians are called to.
Fr. Robinson Ortiz
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