Lend your own voice NCDVD Workshop

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Vocation Promotion: Vocation Promotion: Helping Pastors of Helping Pastors of Souls Lend Their Souls Lend Their Own Voice to Christ Own Voice to Christ

Transcript of Lend your own voice NCDVD Workshop

Page 1: Lend your own voice NCDVD Workshop

Vocation Promotion: Vocation Promotion: Helping Pastors of Helping Pastors of

Souls Lend Their Own Souls Lend Their Own Voice to ChristVoice to Christ

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In surveys of classes of In surveys of classes of ordination, 80-88% of the ordination, 80-88% of the men consistently report men consistently report that it was a priest who that it was a priest who invited them to consider invited them to consider the priesthood.the priesthood.

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Surveys consistently show Surveys consistently show that only about 30% of that only about 30% of priests actively invite men priests actively invite men to consider the priesthood.to consider the priesthood.

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Categories of Priests: My NumbersCategories of Priests: My Numbers

1.1. Those who get it and got it (10-Those who get it and got it (10-20%)20%)

1.1. Get them in key positionsGet them in key positions

2.2. Be very generous to themBe very generous to them

3.3. Learn from themLearn from them

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2. Those who get it but don’t got 2. Those who get it but don’t got it (60%)it (60%)

– They will benefit most by the They will benefit most by the booklet. booklet.

– They need confidence in their They need confidence in their ability to identify and call forth.ability to identify and call forth.

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Lesson One:Lesson One:

Jesus Calls a Man Through the Jesus Calls a Man Through the Pastor of His SoulPastor of His Soul

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Approach in the PastApproach in the Past

Parish --- Pastor --- SeminaryParish --- Pastor --- Seminary

Stories of past when pastors visited Stories of past when pastors visited home, invited the guy and drove home, invited the guy and drove him to seminary. No vocation him to seminary. No vocation director. director.

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The Too Common Approach TodayThe Too Common Approach Today

Parish -- Vocation Director -- SeminaryParish -- Vocation Director -- Seminary

Story of conversation with pastor Story of conversation with pastor concerning the topic of booklet. He said, concerning the topic of booklet. He said, “Why do I need to know about that. We “Why do I need to know about that. We have you; you’re the vocation director.”have you; you’re the vocation director.”

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Effective ApproachEffective Approach

Parish – Pastor – Diocese - Voc. Dir. - Sem.Parish – Pastor – Diocese - Voc. Dir. - Sem.

Vocation Director supports pastor, but pastor Vocation Director supports pastor, but pastor calls.calls.

In our app. process, “Who most influenced you to In our app. process, “Who most influenced you to join seminary?” After 8 years, not one man has join seminary?” After 8 years, not one man has put me down. That’s how it should be.put me down. That’s how it should be.

In eight years, vested only two guys. How it In eight years, vested only two guys. How it should be.should be.

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Conversion is needed!Conversion is needed!– Of Imagination:Of Imagination:

When priests imagine who calls forth men, they When priests imagine who calls forth men, they imagine the vocation director. Not right.imagine the vocation director. Not right.

Calling forth men is part of being a parish priest, Calling forth men is part of being a parish priest, pastor, chaplain, etc. It’s not a separate assignmentpastor, chaplain, etc. It’s not a separate assignment

Director of Vocations’ job is to help priests live out Director of Vocations’ job is to help priests live out their responsibility. V.D. assists them; does not their responsibility. V.D. assists them; does not replace them!replace them!

– Of Mind:Of Mind: Church already has the structure: Pastor and parish. Church already has the structure: Pastor and parish.

No need for alternate structures.No need for alternate structures. Do our titles communicate properly: “Vocation Do our titles communicate properly: “Vocation

Recruiter” or “Regional Vocation Director” can be Recruiter” or “Regional Vocation Director” can be misleadingmisleading

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Lesson Two:Lesson Two:– Become Aware of Personal Become Aware of Personal

Obstacles and Bring them to Obstacles and Bring them to JesusJesus

Fear of rejection?Fear of rejection? Can’t turn the ship around.Can’t turn the ship around.

– Need to inspire one seminarian every Need to inspire one seminarian every 13-15 years.13-15 years.

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Lesson Three:Lesson Three:– Jesus needs a discerning heart, not Jesus needs a discerning heart, not

a big personalitya big personality This should encourage the second This should encourage the second

group of priests (60%).group of priests (60%). Being a fisher of men requires only Being a fisher of men requires only

what should be expected of every what should be expected of every priest: discernment and fatherly carepriest: discernment and fatherly care

Avoid two extremes: asking no one or Avoid two extremes: asking no one or shotgun approachshotgun approach

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Lesson Four:Lesson Four:– Trust Your GutTrust Your Gut

Discernment involves being aware of Discernment involves being aware of your gut, thoughts and feelingsyour gut, thoughts and feelings

Bringing it to prayerBringing it to prayer Presbyterates’ response when asked if Presbyterates’ response when asked if

they know of someone that felt in your they know of someone that felt in your gut that he may be called, but gut that he may be called, but dismissed it. Almost all raise their dismissed it. Almost all raise their hand.hand.

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Lesson Five:Lesson Five:Calling forth a Man is a sacred actCalling forth a Man is a sacred act Comparison to words of Comparison to words of

consecration, words of consecration, words of absolution, etc. We treat them absolution, etc. We treat them with a sacrednesswith a sacredness

The invitation requires an The invitation requires an appropriate time and an appropriate time and an appropriate level of seriousness. appropriate level of seriousness. This increases efficaciousness.This increases efficaciousness.

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Fr. Schmidt is a senior religion teacher and Fr. Schmidt is a senior religion teacher and chaplain at the Catholic high school. Early chaplain at the Catholic high school. Early in the semester one of his students, Mario, in the semester one of his students, Mario, gets his attention. Mario is not the ideal gets his attention. Mario is not the ideal teenager. He likes to party; chastity is not teenager. He likes to party; chastity is not his strongest virtue. He has much that his strongest virtue. He has much that needs conversion. Nevertheless, when Fr. needs conversion. Nevertheless, when Fr. Schmidt passionately teaches the doctrinal Schmidt passionately teaches the doctrinal and moral truths of Christ and the Church, and moral truths of Christ and the Church, Mario is fully engaged. He soaks it all in. Mario is fully engaged. He soaks it all in. Father pays attention to this. Although, Father pays attention to this. Although, Mario is still not free from much of his Mario is still not free from much of his sinful behavior, Father can see that there sinful behavior, Father can see that there is a battle going on in Mario’s heart.is a battle going on in Mario’s heart.

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Then Lent comes. Fr. Schmidt challenges Then Lent comes. Fr. Schmidt challenges all of his students to go to daily Mass at all of his students to go to daily Mass at 6:45am at the Cathedral before they go to 6:45am at the Cathedral before they go to school. Mario accepts the challenge. school. Mario accepts the challenge. During the weeks of Lent, Father can see a During the weeks of Lent, Father can see a further change happening in Mario. He is further change happening in Mario. He is noticeably moved about Christ’s real noticeably moved about Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist; he begins to go presence in the Eucharist; he begins to go to confession regularly; he is curious about to confession regularly; he is curious about Father’s life as a priest. Fr. Schmidt notices Father’s life as a priest. Fr. Schmidt notices all of this and offers Mario to the Lord in all of this and offers Mario to the Lord in prayer. prayer.

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Then the final semester exam comes. The Then the final semester exam comes. The final exam is a ten-minute verbal exam, final exam is a ten-minute verbal exam, one-on-one with Father. It is an one-on-one with Father. It is an environment with a high level of environment with a high level of seriousness; for ten minutes, Father asks seriousness; for ten minutes, Father asks each student questions about any of the each student questions about any of the material covered over the semester and material covered over the semester and the student has to answer verbally with the student has to answer verbally with no notes. All the students know that Fr. no notes. All the students know that Fr. Schmidt takes this time seriously. Schmidt takes this time seriously.

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Mario was nervous but he did well on Mario was nervous but he did well on his exam. Father congratulated his exam. Father congratulated and praised him. Mario was and praised him. Mario was pleased about his level of pleased about his level of comprehension of the material and comprehension of the material and to know that Father was proud of to know that Father was proud of him. him.

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Fr. Schmidt knew that this was the time. In that Fr. Schmidt knew that this was the time. In that meaningful and personal environment after meaningful and personal environment after a final exam, after a semester of sensing a final exam, after a semester of sensing things in his gut and praying for Mario, things in his gut and praying for Mario, Father said, “Mario, I need to tell you Father said, “Mario, I need to tell you something. I see the qualities in you that something. I see the qualities in you that were in me when I was your age.” After a were in me when I was your age.” After a pause, he continued, “I would not be pause, he continued, “I would not be surprised if Christ has chosen you to be a surprised if Christ has chosen you to be a priest; I think you would make a fine priest.” priest; I think you would make a fine priest.” Mario was consoled and overwhelmed at the Mario was consoled and overwhelmed at the same time. same time.

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After some silence and with a genuine After some silence and with a genuine seriousness, Mario admitted that seriousness, Mario admitted that sometimes he thinks about it. So, Father sometimes he thinks about it. So, Father Schmidt continued, “Mario, do not be Schmidt continued, “Mario, do not be afraid; do not panic. I simply encourage afraid; do not panic. I simply encourage you each night before you go to sleep to you each night before you go to sleep to pray three “Hail Marys,” saying to Mary, pray three “Hail Marys,” saying to Mary, ‘Blessed Mother, I want to do whatever ‘Blessed Mother, I want to do whatever your Son wants; show me!’” He thanked your Son wants; show me!’” He thanked Father. Father.

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Mario was deeply touched that this man of Mario was deeply touched that this man of God, Fr. Schmidt, would even consider a God, Fr. Schmidt, would even consider a sinful young man like himself to be sinful young man like himself to be possibly called by Jesus to the same life possibly called by Jesus to the same life which Father had been called; it left an which Father had been called; it left an impression on him that would not go impression on him that would not go away. He went to college, majoring in away. He went to college, majoring in education and there were many days education and there were many days that he wished the thought of the that he wished the thought of the priesthood would go away. It didn’t. priesthood would go away. It didn’t.

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After four years of college, he joined the After four years of college, he joined the seminary. Today, he is a priest, the seminary. Today, he is a priest, the chaplain and religion teacher in that chaplain and religion teacher in that same high school. And often after a same high school. And often after a final exam, he does for a young man final exam, he does for a young man what Fr. Schmidt did for him: he what Fr. Schmidt did for him: he lends his voice to Christ so that lends his voice to Christ so that Christ may call the young man to Christ may call the young man to the beautiful life to which he was the beautiful life to which he was called. called.

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Lesson Six:Lesson Six:– Provide and Protect the Mystery Provide and Protect the Mystery

within the manwithin the man Go through points from booklet, Go through points from booklet,

stressing...stressing...– Daily Mass and regular confessionDaily Mass and regular confession– This is the point when the pastor should This is the point when the pastor should

contact the vocation director…and contact the vocation director…and vocation director needs to have something vocation director needs to have something to offer. Need to be able to help them!to offer. Need to be able to help them!

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Lesson Seven:Lesson Seven:– Discernment Happens “in Christ.”Discernment Happens “in Christ.”

Story of Daniel in booklet. It is Story of Daniel in booklet. It is important that the priest is able to important that the priest is able to name for the discerner the space name for the discerner the space where they are “hearing” Jesus.where they are “hearing” Jesus.

This would be the time to walk This would be the time to walk through “Is Jesus Calling You to be a through “Is Jesus Calling You to be a Catholic Priest?” with the candidate.Catholic Priest?” with the candidate.

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How to Use this??How to Use this??– Bishop send the booklet to every priest Bishop send the booklet to every priest

with a letter, encouraging them to read with a letter, encouraging them to read it and indicating to them that you will be it and indicating to them that you will be out to every deanery to give a out to every deanery to give a presentation to them.presentation to them.

– Less ideal, but could do it with entire Less ideal, but could do it with entire presbyterate at once.presbyterate at once.

– Have Have Jesus CaritasJesus Caritas groups go through it groups go through it together and discuss it.together and discuss it.

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Questions or Questions or Comments!Comments!