November 8, 2023 I don’t recall if it was the sole purpose of the phone call or if it came up after another conversation, but I remember him asking. The deacon who serves our parish, Deacon Lee Trudeau, asked if my husband and I were ok with him talking to our son, Jake, about the Andrew Dinners being held in locations around the diocese for men discerning their vocations. Deacon Trudeau noted that attending one of the dinners would be an opportunity for Jake to eat, pray and talk with men discerning their vocations, priests of the diocese and Bishop Terry R. LaValley. “You’re more than welcome to talk to him about it. In fact, I encourage it. But I’ve already brought it up with him,” I told the deacon. “Jake told me he didn’t think he was called to the priesthood, but he said, ‘I’m open to where God calls me.’” “I’m open to where God calls me.” A junior in high school, Jake is currently interested in learning more about career opportunities in sports – sports journalism, sports marketing, sports management… He loves sports. While he continues to pursue those natural interests, he remains open to God’s will, and he recognizes that sometimes God’s plan is different than our plans. I’ve experienced that in my own life. When I started dating a shy photographer who worked with me at The Malone Telegram, I told him I had a “three-month rule,” and I dated men for only three months before breaking up with them. God had other plans. That photographer and I have been together for 21 years, married for 19. Jake also recognizes that regardless of what we think we want, God has the best plans for our lives. Whether we’re called to live as a single person, married person, priest, consecrated religious, consecrated virgin and/or deacon, the joy comes from following the Lord and his path for our lives. This week, the North Country Catholic celebrates National Vocations Awareness Week. It’s a great opportunity to learn about a few of the people around us who are trying to follow God’s call and how they’re living their vocations. And please join us in praying for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially here in our diocese. |
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