“I am really, really, proud of you.”
Fr. Mike Schmitz began his vocational call by thanking every vocation in the house. He thanked the single people, the married people, and the religious. Everyone is called to some vocation, and it is inspiring to see so many people answering their call through Christ.
A sacred tradition here at SteubySTL is the Vocations Call.
It began today with Fr. Martin Chris Martin inviting up all of the religious sisters present this weekend. Fr. Martin reminded us that sisters make us want to love God and be saints. He then invited up any women in the room who might have felt the call to the religious life this weekend. Archbishop Carlson prayed over them and encouraged them to be not afraid. They were encouraged to talk to sisters and go on retreat as they discern this call.
“A priest can undo in minutes what it took the devil the 3 years or 3 decades to do to us.” Fr. Martin thanked all of the priests who heard confessions and were present throughout the weekend. He then invited up any men in the room who may have felt called to the religious life this weekend. Fr. Martin reminded them that, “Before you can become Christ the priest, you must become Christ the man.” They were encouraged to focus on becoming men of virtue as they discern this call.
Please pray for all of the young men and women who courageously responded to the Vocations Call this weekend, as they continue to seek God’s will in their lives.
Father Dave Pivonka said this today at the end of Mass. Father was referring to the opportunity to come forward if any of the teens felt God might be calling them to religious life. However, isn’t this true in a different capacity? We are never really finished. While we may load up on the buses and head back to our assorted homes and parishes, the call to our vocation and to holiness is ever beckoning. No matter what our vocation is, we should all continue everyday to answer that call, whether to married, single, or religious life.