June 18, 2014 As part of our diocesan Envisioning Process, one of the three Pastoral Priorities that each of our parishes will soon address in a focused manner is Creating a Culture of Vocations. In his Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on May 11th Pope Francis reflected on Jesus’ familiar words in Matthew’s Gospel: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (cf. Mt.9:35-38) The Holy Father reminded us that we are that harvest; we are the field. Jesus lives and walks along the paths of ordinary life in order to draw near to everyone. It is within the culture of our daily work, recreation, school activities, and yes, even on the ball fields that Jesus meets us. Daily prayer prepares us to welcome the encounter. Jesus and His followers took to the road and beckoned all who would hear: “Follow me.” Today Jesus continues to come to us in our daily walks of life with the same message of love. His call to let go of self for the sake of others continues today. Every person is called to such holiness. The entire Church of Ogdensburg is now challenged, through fervent prayer and witness of life to create an environment here in the North Country where God’s people can identify and courageously respond to the Lord’s call to holiness. All members of the Church are responsible for looking after Church vocations and supporting Christian vocations to the single and married life. A sobering thought: When was the last time there was a Church vocation from your parish, from your family? Genuine vocations will surface, indeed, flourish in the Diocese of Ogdensburg as our energy and fervor to bring Christ to others increase. Care for all vocations presupposes strong family pastoral ministry in our parishes. That’s why our Priority of Strengthening Faith Formation in Family Life is critically important in providing a culture ripe for vocations. The family is the primary community for the transmission of the Christian faith. When families become fractured and secularized, vocational discernment is a real struggle because the truths and beauty of our faith have less chance of being taught and experienced. The limitless quest for material goods and the precipitous decrease in religious practice today discourage individuals from making the courageous Gospel choices that foster holiness of life. The joy-filled example of our consecrated religious and clergy motivates others to the initial interest and then earnest desire to undertake great commitment in the Church and the wish to give one’s entire life to the Lord in the Church. As the Diocese embraces our third Pastoral Priority, Building Parishes with Living Stones, we know that a vibrant parish, one that is Spirit-filled and mission –motivated is the seedbed for vocations. The joy-filled leadership of our pastors enlivens our parish families and attracts the young to consider a Church vocation. Again this year, as the priests of the Diocese gathered at our recent annual Presbyteral Convocation, we truly enjoyed our time together. We joined our Jubilarians in celebration of many wonderful years of zealous priestly ministry in the Lord’s vineyard. What a gift! Pope Francis preached: “The true joy of those who are called consists in believing and experiencing that He, the Lord, is faithful, and that with Him we can walk, be disciples and witnesses of God’s love, open our hearts to great ideals, to great things…” For vocations to flourish, each of us must nurture our own baptismal call to holiness. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people. The Church believes that the parish family is a fruitful womb, capable of offering nourishment and support to those who journey towards priestly ministry. Pope Francis noted that “the harvest will be plentiful proportionate to the grace we have meekly welcomed into our lives.” In this season of planting our fields, we pray for such a plentiful harvest for the Church in the North Country.
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