Vocation director wants more Marian priests

Rev. Fr. Damian Dempsey became a priest in 2001. It has already been 14 years after his nine-year stay in the seminary. He felt fortunate and stable.

He who was raised in New Zealand was religiously influenced by his father. His father always took him and his sister to church. His mother has no religion at first but she became a Catholic, later on. He mentioned that the population of Catholics in New Zealand is only 15% of the whole New Zealand’s populace. “People with no religion have the biggest percentage in New Zealand,” he said. As the Vocations Director of the Society of Mary, he shares with DC Herald his North Cotabato experience when many boys qualified for the entrance exam, yet the challenge in the recruitment was that “most boys were interested in engineering and marine courses to help their family.” They perceive that religious congregations only offer limited opportunities, thus, entering priesthood means a sacrifice for a family to agree. But he still hopes for more vocations there.

He does not force children to join the search-in. He highly recognizes free will. “It’s a free choice and discerning motivation is important,” he ended.

Who are the Marists?

The Society of Mary is an international religious congregation of priests and brothers. The word “Marist” is derived from the name “Mary.” Marists are those who bear the name of the Mother of God; those who endeavor to live together and minister in her spirit.

The first Marists were French. The Society of Mary was officially approved by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836. That same year, Marists became the first missionaries to Western Oceania and founded several local churches throughout the Pacific. Today, the Society of Mary is truly international, with communities spread throughout the world. The Philippines is part of the District of Asia, which also includes Thailand.

What do Marists do?

Their call to be truly missionary; they are to go from place to place, announcing the word of God. They attend especially to the most neglected, the poor, and those who suffer injustice. Their apostolate includes: Works of mercy, Caring for the young, Support of the Local Church, and Inter-religious Dialogue. Members of the Society of Mary—Marists—take Mary as their model.

MARIST FATHERS
For vocation inquiries, please contact:
Mobile #: 09288757096
Telephone #: (082) – 282-1924
Email address: maristvocations@gmail.com
Facebook: Marist Fathers Asia

See more of Marists activities as captured on cam via website: www.maristasia.org (Ysa Dumandan | Cheryl Vilog)