This weekend we have the collision of Good Shepherd Sunday and the first weekend of our new Vocations Chalice. I definitely can’t pass up this opportunity to talk about vocations and encourage new shepherds. We are always in need of more holy priests who are willing to    imitate the words of Our Lord--I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

I have a bold challenge for myself and all members of WWPR. I challenge WWPR to   have one young man enter seminary and one young lady enter a religious vocation each year. It will take a lot of prayer and work to get to this point, but it is most definitely possible. It will take the cooperation of the entire pastoral region. I’d like to suggest three areas of focus.
 
1.   Pray for vocations.
Signing up to receive the new Vocations Chalice is a great way topray for Vocations. In addition, we should be   praying for vocations every day.
If you know of a young man or woman  discerning, please pray for them by name.

2.    Encourage vocations.
If you believe that someone might have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, please let them know. That simple comment dramatically increases the chances that the young person will pursue it—especially when it comes from grandmothers! My own vocation began when my grandmother saw this picture of me with the late Bishop after serving for my older brother’s confirmation. 
She proclaimed to the party, “Oh Jeff, we’ve never had a pope in the family    before. You can be the first!” And that silly interchange was the seed of a   priestly vocation. I’m happy to stay a priest.  I guess I’m not as ambitious as  my grandma.
 
3.  Build a culture of vocations.
Vocations beget more vocations.  If discerning a vocation at OLR becomes  a normal part of a young person’s life, then we are on the right track towards our ambitious goal! As young people see other young people joyfully answering the call, then it will only continue to  encourage them to discern their own vocation!

Let us celebrate this Good Shepherd Sunday and the kickoff weekend of the Vocations Chalice by setting an ambitious goal: to have one young man enter seminary and one young lady enter a religious vocation each year from WWPR. This can become a reality. Let us work towards it together as a pastoral region! Time to pray, encourage, and build up a culture of vocations!
 
In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, Fr. Jeff