And miles to go

by Bishop John. C. Nienstedt

During my first pastorate at St. Patrick’s Parish in Union Lake, MI, I one day received the calendars for the New Year. The theme was "Vocations" and all the high-gloss pictures for each month depicted a different person doing some essential ministry on behalf of the church: there was a bishop confirming, a deacon baptizing, a couple getting married, a lay minister distributing Holy Communion, another bringing the Eucharist to a homebound person, etc. As I searched through the months of the year, I could not find a single priest or religious brother or sister!

There is a standard joke in church circles that says there is never a shortage of vocations for bishops. Generally, the same could be said for deacons, Eucharistic ministers and married people. Oh, this doesn’t mean that we should not pray for them, but let’s face the fact that statistically fewer men are preparing for priesthood than twenty years ago and many main-line religious communities receive very few prospective candidates each year.

Our diocesan study shows that we presently have 48 active priests serving our 82 parishes and missions. The study goes on to project that by July 2007, we will only have 36 active priests. Already some priests serve three or even four parish communities. Although some of these are small, theirs is still a balancing act that can easily lead to stress-related issues of health and spiritual well-being. In the end, fewer priests will necessitate fewer parishes.

The answer to this dilemma does not lie in women or married men being ordained. Even though that controversy continues in some corners, it is not an option for our consideration. St. Paul emphatically proclaims that the Holy Spirit will provide sufficient charisms or gifts for the continuing welfare of the faith community (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Ephesians 1:13-19 and 4:1-6). This means God is calling young people to be priests, sisters and brothers, but the message is not getting through!

When I first came to the Diocese, I asked all of us to pray and abstain from meat on Fridays as a sacrificial petition to God for priestly, religious, missionary, and diaconal vocations. One of God’s powerful answers came December 6th through the 9th in Indianapolis, IN. Nearly seven hundred of our diocesan youth, high school age, attended the National Catholic Youth Congress whose theme was Vocations! I was so proud of these young men and women as they sang, talked, prayed, and pondered what role God was calling them to assume in the church.

Do I think they will all be priests and religious? Absolutely not. But, the fact is that many are being called and our prayer and fasting is making it possible for them to gain a focus for prayerfully considering what God has in mind for them.

I want to add quickly that this is not simply a marketing approach, a sleek recruitment campaign. When God calls, he gives the grace of a happy, fulfilled life. I have been an ordained, celibate priest for 27 years. Yes, there have been ups and downs, even bitter disappointments and failed relationships. But, whose life doesn’t experience such highs and lows? Yet, I would not trade being a priest for anything. My life is full of friends and good people who love and support me more than I deserve. And, I desire this same happiness for other men and women because "God is good . . . all the time!"

We, therefore, begin this New Year with the spotlight on "Priestly and Religious Vocations" for the month of January. Vocations’ Awareness Week is January 13-19.

Obviously, January also shares its attention with the Church Unity Octave, the New Sacramentary (See article page 10), and our universal celebration of World Peace Day.

But, I submit that, here in this Diocese, priestly and religious vocations is our #1 priority. God will hear our petition, but we must ask with great faith, hope, and perseverance! So check out our web site, tune into our cablecast programs, and continue your prayer and Friday abstinence! May God bless you abundantly for your effort!

January, 2002

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

Por el obispo John c. Nienstedt

La primera parroquia donde serví como párroco fue la parroquia de St. Patrick, Union Lake, Michigan. Durante mi tiempo alla, un día recibí los calendarios del Año Nuevo. El tema era "Vocaciones" en cada mes se podia apreciar fotos pintorescas que describian a diferentes personas trabajando en algún ministerio en nombre de la Iglesia: ¡había un obispo confirmando, un diácono bautizando, una pareja uniéndose en matrimonio, un ministro laico distribuyendo la Sagrada comunión y otro llevando la Eucaristía a una persona incapacitada, etc. Al examinar todo el calendario, no pude encontrar a un solo sacerdote, hermana o hermano religioso!

Nuestro estudio diocesano muestra que en estos momentos tenemos 48 sacerdotes activos que sirven a nuestras 82 parroquias y misiones. Este estudio proyecta que para julio del 2007 tendremos 36 sacerdotes activos solamente. Algunos sacerdotes sirven tres hasta incluso cuatro parroquias al mismo tiempo. Aunque algunas parroquias son pequeños, ellos tienen mucho trabajo y esto puede traer como consecuencia problemas relacionados con la tensión, salud y el bienestar espiritual. Al final, menos sacerdotes necesitarán menos parroquias.

Cuando llegue a la Diócesis por primera vez, pedí rezar por abstinencia de no comer carne los viernes como un sacrificio de petición a Dios por las vocaciones sacerdotales, religiosas, misioneras y diaconales. Quiero agregar rápidamente que esto no es simplemente una campaña publicitaria ya que cuando Dios llama, él da la tolerancia de una feliz y satisfecha vida. Yo tengo 27 años de haber sido ordenado sacerdote célibe. Sí, han habido altibajos, incluso desilusiones amargas y fracasos. ¿Pero quien no experimenta este tipo de situación? Yo no cambiaría el ser un sacerdote por nada. Mi vida está llena de amigos y personas buenas que me aman y me apoyan. Por lo tanto, deseo esta misma felicidad para otros hombres y mujeres porque "Dios es bueno. . . todo el tiempo! "

Por lo tanto comenzamos este Año Nuevo con el proyecto "Vocaciones Sacerdotales y Religiosas" para el mes de enero. La Semana Nacional de las Vocaciones es el 13 al 19 de enero. Propongo que, aquí en esta Diócesis, las vocaciones sacerdotales y religiosas sean nuestra primera prioridad. ¡Dios oirá nuestra petición, pero debemos pedirle con mucha fe, esperanza, y perseverancia! ¡Así que visite nuestra página en la internet, vea nuestros programas en cable de televisión, y continue orando por abstinencia de no comer carne los viernes! ¡Que Dios los bendiga abundantemente por su esfuerzo!