And Miles to Go

by Bishop John C. Nienstedt

When I arrived as your bishop five years ago, I declared at my installation at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye that promoting vocations to the priesthood had to be a "number one" priority. That still remains true today!

At the present time, we have forty-three priests for seventy-eight parishes and three oratories that make up twenty-three Area Faith Communities. In addition, we have six Hispanic worship sites also served by those same priests. Sixteen of those forty-three priests are over the age of sixty. In ten years, they could retire, leaving only twenty-seven priests to serve our people. (There are presently twelve pastoral administrators, eight of whom are over sixty years.) Another ten of our priests are fifty years or older. By 2026, they could retire, leaving seventeen priests in service. Today, we have six seminarians at various stages of discernment. God willing, they will be ordained. But they alone are not enough. We must beg the "Harvest Master" to send more laborers into his vineyard!

On the other hand, I am encouraged that we have identified over 200 high school and junior high men through our Operation Andrew dinners who express interest in the priesthood. They need to be encouraged.

In September I traveled to Kerala, India, where priests are abundant, to see if we can get some help. I hope to do the same next year in Poland. Another possibility is a new seminary in Mexico City where young Mexicans are prepared to minister in the United States. I have also made contacts with SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan, which recruits seminarians from Poland. Perhaps, some help can come from there.

All of these possibilities, of course, do not remove our own responsibility for encouraging all our sons, grandsons, nephews and neighbors to consider the vocation of being a priest. Likewise, this situation points out how essential November’s first Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) is to the future of our local Church. Whether we sponsor priests from India or Poland, if we can adopt a seminarian from Orchard Lake or Mexico City, there will be expenses to meet. The DMA will go a long way to supporting those financial commitments.

In addition, the DMA will also permit us for the first time to begin a program of education and formation for permanent deacons as well as other programs for lay ministers. This will result, God willing, in a huge increase of service to the people of this Diocese. At the same time, the DMA will permit us to expand our activities for the youth and for our children. Getting them more involved in the works of the Church will hopefully allow them to consider devoting their lives to preaching or teaching the Gospel in the name of Christ and with the authority of his Church. Young people need to know that the Church wants their leadership and they can be mentored into such a role during their teenage years.

I am convinced that our particular diocesan "drought" of Church vocations can be overcome. When Pope John Paul II was elected to the Chair of St. Peter, there were 63,882 seminarians worldwide. When he died, the number was 112,643. The secret lies in loving, faithful witness to the truth of the Gospel in union with the Church’s Magisterium and sustained with prayer, adoration and Marian devotion. The life and death of Pope John Paul II shows us the way.

Once again, I ask every member of our Diocesan Church to do his or her part; to pray, to fast, and to support the DMA. The "Harvest Master" will bless our efforts!

May God love you!

October, 2006

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

Por el obispo John C. Nienstedt

Hace cinco años, en mi instalación como su obispo en la Iglesia de Santa María en Sleepy Eye anuncie que la prioridad número uno sería promover vocaciones al sacerdocio. ¡Hasta hoy todavía lo sigue siendo!

Actualmente, contamos con 43 sacerdotes que cubren las 78 parroquias y 3 parroquias oratorios que conforman 23 Comunidades del Área de Fe. Además, contamos con 6 áreas donde hay misas en español. 16 de los 43 sacerdotes son mayores de 60 años. En diez años, ellos podrían retirarse, dejando a solo 27 sacerdotes con la responsabilidad de servir a nuestro pueblo. (Actualmente contamos con 12 administradores pastorales, la cual 8 de ellos son mayores de 60 años). Por otra parte 10 sacerdotes tienen 50 años o más. Para el año 2026, ellos podrían retirarse, dejando a solo 17 sacerdotes activos. Hoy, contamos con 6 seminaristas que se encuentran en varias etapas de discernimiento. Dios mediante, ellos serán ordenados. Pero con solo ellos no serán suficientes. Debemos pedir al "Maestro de las Cosechas" por más servidores en su viña.

Por otra parte, estoy animado porque a través del programa Operation Andrew hemos identificado a más de 200 estudiantes de secundaria con un interés al sacerdocio. Ellos necesitarán ser animados y estimulados.

Este mes, estaré viajando a Kerala, India, para ver si nos podrían brindar ayuda con sus sacerdotes. El próximo año espero hacer lo mismo en Polonia. Otra posibilidad sería el nuevo seminario en la ciudad de México en donde los seminaristas son preparados para servir en los Estados Unidos. También me he contactado con el Seminario SS. Cyril y Methodius en Orchard Lake, Michigan, la cual recluta seminaristas de Polonia. Quizás, podríamos conseguir alguna ayuda de allá.

Después de todas esas posibilidades, no debemos descuidarnos con la responsabilidad de animar a nuestros hijos, nietos, sobrinos y vecinos el de considerar la vocación al sacerdocio. Con esto la Campaña para los Ministerios Diocesanos es la respuesta para nuestra Iglesia local. Si recibimos ayuda de la India, Polonia, o si adoptamos a un seminarista de Orchard Lake o Mexico habrá costos de por medio que tenemos que afrontar. Por consiguiente, la Campaña para los Ministerios Diocesanos ayudaría con esos gastos financieros.

Otra vez, pido a cada miembro de nuestra Iglesia diocesana que ponga de su parte para orar, ayunar y apoyar la campaña. El "Maestro de la Cosecha" bendecirá todos y cada uno de nuestros esfuerzos.

¡Que Dios los bendiga!