On World Day of Prayer for Vocations - Parish Announces 2 New Seminarians

As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, we also recall that today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  The Holy Father, reflecting on a theme for the celebration, suggested: "Proposing Vocations in the Local Church."

"The Shepherd calls his own sheep by name...they recognize his voice...and follow Him."  cf John 10:1-10

The Lord, our Good Shepherd, is constantly calling some to a vocation as a priest or consecrated religious (sister or brother).  He is always calling - but we are not always responding.

Our Diocese is doing... well, OK at the moment - but it is tight.  But in the next few years it is going to get VERY tight.  For example, this year alone, 2 priests are retiring, another priest died just yesterday - we are only ordaining one priest this year - leaving a net loss of 2 priests.  Somewhere we need to find priests to take the place of 2 others!  We have more young men in the seminary than we have in years, but the process of discernment and study takes many years - so while relief is coming, it is a long way off.

However, our parish is certainly doing its part to provide vocations for our local Church.  We all know that our parish has one seminarian - Steven Arena -who graduates from Saint Charles College Seminary on Friday, and then begins a new phase of his formation and discernment toward priesthood.  But, on this Good Shepherd Sunday, I'm very thrilled to announce that our parish has two more seminarians!

• Last week, Joey Barvir met with the Diocesan Seminary Review Board and was officially accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Harrisburg.  (Joey is on the right - holing the pole to the canopy - looking upward)
• Another young man, Andrew Hartung, while living in Virginia, will be applying to our Diocese and calling our parish "home."  (Andrew is on the left in the photo - holding the thurible - or incense)
• But that's not all!  There's a third young man who is seriously discerning priesthood, but also discerning if this is the right moment to enter or not.

So, our parish now has 3 (almost 4) seminarians studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Harrisburg!  God is hearing and answering our prayers!

One question, though... Where are the young ladies discerning a vocation as a religious sister?!