Now that I am putting my fingers on keyboard to communicate with you through our Sunday bulletin, I would like to thank you for your prayers for me on my 15-year anniversary of my Ordination and for Fr. McCullough on his birthday.
 
As your shepherds, we are so grateful for being among you, for your generosity and for your love for us. Each and every day with you, you teach us to be priests. Thank You.
 
For me, the way you celebrated my Ordination anniversary truly brought me back to 2003, specifically on the day of my Ordination. Our ordination day is a special moment in our lives as priests and in the lives of our parish family as well. Everyone who comes in contact with a priest benefits from the gift of priesthood that the Lord himself gives to his Church.
 
It was in my family that I learned to love God and his church and to serve others. I am convinced that my family was my first seminary. Of course, the parishes, priests and bishops do much to encourage vocations to the priesthood, yet discipleship begins at home.
 
As parents teach their sons and daughters how to pray and the importance of charity to God and to neighbor, they become the local church in which children begin to walk with Christ. This fulfills the obligations laid on the hearts of every parent to train their children to enter heaven someday.
 
I always think and pray for the parents whose children are discerning their vocation. The ideal Catholic parent understands a simple truth: that God desires your child’s happiness even more than you do! If your son or daughter experiences a genuine call from the Lord to pursue the priesthood or religious life, please trust in God’s love for them!
 
From the earliest years, make it clear to your children that God has a plan for them. Read them Bible stories of Jesus calling his disciples. Engage in open conversations about your children’s hopes and dreams. Make sure that they understand the various vocations to marriage, priesthood, and religious life. Above all, teach them how to pray and serve others.
 
As we welcome Fr. Dan Schmitmeyer who is speaking on vocations, let us also pray for our children and help them to discern God’s will.
 
May God bless all of you parents who are at peace with God’s will, and say to your son, “I will pray for you and support you as you go to seminary. “
 
Fr. Lambert