A Gift to and an Endeavor of the Community

The making of a priest is a gift to the community and an endeavor of the community. To produce a priest is a gift from the community. It is from each family where vocation to the priesthood starts. Yet, it must also the community from where the one who aspires to become a priest that one should feel all the needed support in his response to the vocation to the priesthood. It is the task of the community to show importance and to cherish the one called to such a vocation.

“Both the family and the parish of origin, or the parish to which he (the seminarian) belongs, as well as other ecclesial communities, contribute significantly to sustaining and nourishing the vocation of those called to the priesthood. This is as true during the period of formation as it is during the life of the priest” (The Gift of Priestly Vocation, Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, 148).

Thanks to our vocation promoters in the parish composed of our generous parishioners who try to provide whatever our seminarians need. But the sustenance and nourishment of one’s vocation to the priesthood is not only limited to providing the material and monetary needs of the seminarian. Even less to the extent of spoiling the formandee. It must consider the emotional and psychological formation which, not only the formators in the seminary can offer, but also the immediate parish and other communities of the seminarian. Support must be deepend morally and spiritually so as to lead the seminarian to really appreciate being God’s humble servant as a priest.

As we celebrate vocation month, we pray: “Lord God, give the parents faith, love, and spirit of sacrifice which will inspire them to offer their children to God’s service and to rejoice whenever one of their children is called to the priesthood and religious life. Amen.”