I was browsing the USCCB website today and found some stuff that might interest anyone who is discerning a call to the priesthood. Here it is….

1. What is ordination? Ordination is the sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and enabled to minister in Christ’s name and that of the Church. There are three ordinations in the Sacrament of Holy Orders: diaconate; priesthood; and Episcopal. The ordination ceremony includes various rituals, rich in meaning and history, e.g., the prostration, laying on of hands, anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and paten, sign of peace.
2. When does the ordination actually take place? The essential rite of the sacrament, i.e., when it takes place, is the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration. This is an ancient tradition in the Church, mentioned in the Bible.
3. Who can ordain priests? Only a bishop can ordain a priest because he shares in the ministry of Jesus passed down through the apostles.
4. What is the meaning of the laying on of hands? By this ritual the ordaining bishop and the other priests invoke the Holy Spirit to come down upon the one to be ordained, giving him a sacred character and setting him apart for the designated ministry.
5. Why does the ordinand lie prostrate during the ordination? It symbolizes his unworthiness for the office to be assumed and his dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community.
6. What is the meaning of the newly ordained priest receiving the stole and chasuble? These are vestments which pertain to his office and have symbolic meaning. The stole symbolizes the authority and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ. It reflects the line from Scripture: “For my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11:30). The chasuble is the principal garment of the priest celebrating the Eucharist and is the outermost vestment.
7. What does the anointing of the hands signify? Anointing with oil stems from the Old Testament and indicates that someone or something is being set apart for a sacred task or duty. The anointing of the hands signifies that the hands of the newly ordained priest are being prepared for the sacred duties and vessels which will be part of the priestly ministry, for example, offering the bread and the wine, anointing the sick and blessing people. The bishop says as he anoints the hands: “The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God.”
8. Why does the ordaining bishop hand the ordinand a chalice and paten? The Eucharist is at the heart of the priesthood and this ritual highlights the importance of celebrating the Eucharist in the life of the priest and its meaning, as seen in the words which are spoken by the bishop: “Accept from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to him. Know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate: model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.”
9. How does one prepare for ordination to the priesthood? A man has to engage in a challenging program of priestly formation which lasts from five to thirteen years, depending upon his background and the seminary he attends. There are three levels of seminary: high school; college or pre-theology; and theology.
   Seminaries address four types of formation: human; spiritual; academic (intellectual); and pastoral. In addition to the academic course work, seminarians participate in a full schedule of spiritual activities, e.g., daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer), and spiritual direction and retreats. At each level of seminary training, the seminarian prepares for future pastoral ministry in various settings, such as schools, religious education programs, hospitals and parishes. All of the formation takes into consideration the human person; human growth and development is fostered by community living, workshops and other programs. The formation of future priests includes practical learning, too, for example, preaching, saying Mass, and pastoral counseling.
10. Do priests take vows? Priests who belong to a religious order (e.g., Benedictine, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.) take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Diocesan priests make three promises: chaste-celibacy, respect and obedience to their bishop and his successors, and the promise to faithfully pray the Liturgy of the Hours; these promises are part of the ordination ceremony. It is also expected that diocesan priests will lead a life of simplicity consonant with the people they serve.

Here is an additional link to the Vocations Resources page for anyone who may desire some more information. (http://www.usccb.org/vocations/voc_resources.shtml)

Hello all! I realize it has been a while since my last message keeping all of you up-to-speed with my progress at the seminary. So, let’s cut to the chase….

Last Monday evening [January 19th], a large majority of the house participated in a Holy Hour for the Nation while others, including myself, participated in private holy hours keeping the new President and the country in our prayers. The following morning, Inauguration Day, our daily Mass was dedicated to the nation. As Catholic Christians, we are called to pray for those who have been elected to public office, no matter what our political ideologies may be. However, this does not mean that we conform to the ideologies of the nation’s political leaders. It is important that we stand up for what we believe in, reminding all of our elected officials of our stance on issues pertaining to life and the environment.

On Saturday, January 24th, we had the Liga Orante Mass with Archbishop Favalora and hundreds of Catholic women of the Archdiocese of Miami. The Liga Orante is a group of women who constantly pray for an increase to priestly vocations and vocations to the religious life. Each year, they do a fundraiser to help support the seminary financially. This year, the Liga Orante raised over $10,000 for the financial necessities of St. John Vianney. We thank them for their tremendous support!!

In a few weeks, all of the seminarians will be spending several hours in the library each night. Yes, mid-term exams are quickly approaching. (It is hard to believe that we have been back from Christmas Recess for four weeks! How the time flies!!) The Mid-Semester Break is the week following the exams. Even though it is only five days in length, we are all looking forward to being home with friends and family for a few days.

After the break, we go on a three day retreat. The location of the retreat is typically held off campus, however, the location in which the retreat is usually held is currently under renovation. So, we haven’t been told whether or not the retreat will be held on site or in another location.

I would like to thank all those who are continuing to support me while I study at the seminary. Most especially, I would like to thank my parents for instilling in me my faith in Jesus Christ, my church family for all of their financial and prayerful support, the St. Charles CCW, the Knights of Columbus (Our Lady of the Lakes Council), the Ladies Guild of Blessed Sacrament, and the Corpus Christi Women. Thank you all!

May God bless you and may He continue to bless the Diocese of Orlando and the Roman Catholic Church.

Bye for now………………..

Friends, again I ask you, what about today? What are you seeking? What is God whispering to you? The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ. The saints show us the selfless love of his way. As disciples of Christ, their extraordinary journeys unfolded within the community of hope, which is the Church. It is from within the Church that you too will find the courage and support to walk the way of the Lord. Nourished by personal prayer, prompted in silence, shaped by the Church’s liturgy you will discover the particular vocation God has for you. Embrace it with joy. You are Christ’s disciples today. Shine his light upon this great city and beyond. Show the world the reason for the hope that resonates within you. Tell others about the truth that sets you free.

In observance of National Vocation Awareness Week, I have decided to post Eight Ways to Encourage Vocations, a short list that is found on the Diocese of Orlando Vocations website.

1. Be faith-filled people. Pray for guidance in decisions, and seek to deepen your relationship with God.
2. Let Christian values guide you. Be generous and of service to others.
3. Pray. Let the children see you pray and pray with them in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances.
4. Share faith. Talk with children about how faith affects your life.
5. Make and demand sacrifice. Help children see both by example and by what you expect of them that a holy and happy life involves sacrifice.
6. Stay in touch. Get to know priests and religious by interacting with them as opportunities arise so that you are comfortable with them and understand their commitment.
7. Educate. Teach children you know about the option of a call to religious life or priesthood as well as the call to marriage or single life.
8. Support. If a child or young adult speaks of a desire to be a priest, deacon, brother or sister, be supportive.

I would like to take this opportunity to share my advice to anyone who is considering a priestly vocation. If you think God may be calling you to discern the priesthood of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to turn to the Lord in the form of the Eucharist.

When I began talking to Fr. Miguel about the possibility of entering the seminary, I was told to go and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament and simply listen. Listen to what the Lord is saying to you. If you give Him the attention, He will be sure to communicate with you what He has in store for you and what His plans are for you.

Thought you all might be interested to know that this week is National Vocations Awareness Week throughout the United States. The following is a New Release from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

WASHINGTON—The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, January 11-17.

“This week is a chance for parishes across the country to highlight the gift of vocations in the church through prayer and education,” said Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “As a church, we recognize the need to safeguard and promote this gift.”

Father James Steffes, executive director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, added, “The church needs to help young people hear the Lord in prayer, so they can recognize him in their lives.”

“This week reminds us that it is our responsibility to pray for vocations and to invite young people to consider a call to ordained ministry and consecrated life.”

The observance of National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) began in 1976 when the National Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year as the beginning of NVAW. In 1997, this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 11 in 2009, marks Jesus’ initiation into public ministry. At his baptism Jesus is named the beloved Son of God. With this celebration the faithful recommit themselves to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. They are also initiated through their own baptism to be the Beloved of God, commissioned to proclaim Good News with their lives.

In the Diocese of Orlando, there are nineteen seminarians studying to become priests and ten prospective candidates to be admitted to the seminary. Please pray for all of the seminarians and for those men and women considering a religious vocation. For more on what you can do to inspire and encourage vocations in your parish, please see the Diocese of Orlando Vocations Office website.