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Another FIRST for Vocation Ministry! As part of our new Education Initiative, we now are engaging catechists to promote vocations in a variety of ways. There is little doubt that without wonderful catechists sharing their faith and encouraging their students to living out their Baptismal call to holiness that we would have fewer sisters, brothers, and priests to … Continued

In January of 2020, I spent a day with about 45 priests from the Archdiocese of Newark to encourage them to promote vocations in their parishes. We asked them to send 2-5 parishioners to a parishioner workshop that was held just 6 weeks later. They responded so beautifully by sending 125 parishioners to that workshop to be equipped!   Shortly thereafter, our world’s focus shifted elsewhere understandably. We are living … Continued

We had our second virtual look into convent life with 5 communities and 150 discerners and those curious about convent life! It was inspirational to see so many women from all over the United States, representing 100 different dioceses! We had a group of American Heritage Girls, families, and two houses of discernment joining us, too.  Each hour gave … Continued

Another FIRST for Vocation Ministry! What an honor it was to give a 2-hour presentation on how Catholic schools can becomevocation-producing to all the principals of the Diocese of Syracuse, New York! This was Vocation Ministry’s 90th workshop in 5 years!   There is little doubt that without Catholic schools we would have fewer sisters, brothers, and … Continued

I so wanted to go to Philadelphia! The plans were made to visit the Cathedral and Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel while on the ground for our parishioner workshop. I could not have been more excited! Then, the city went further into lockdown from the pandemic, and I no longer present to many people. We … Continued

The Diocese of Syracuse declared a Year of Vocations starting November 14, 2020. Our in-person parishioner workshop was to be the first official event for this special year. 100 people had registered to attend in person, but when it had to go virtual and people could join in from wherever they are, 181 participants joined … Continued

For years, I have been working on holding workshops in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia! It is a vibrant archdiocese for vocations with an incredible Vocation Director Fr. Stephen DeLacy. Finally, we had decided on a date for me to speak with the priests and then, Covid-19 hit. We pushed the dates back and were ready … Continued

On Friday night before the Saturday workshop, I had the amazing opportunity to tour St. Vincent Archabbey, a Benedictine Monastery, the oldest monastery in the US and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. I was privileged to listen to their incredible organ and see where the monks eat and pray! What a place to contemplate … Continued

Sometimes we asked to come to beautiful places to hold workshops! Now, don’t get me wrong. Every diocese has beauty to offer. I live in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and I love it. BUT I don’t think that it is an incredibly beautiful place to live. We have no mountain or ocean view, and the … Continued

This group of priests made such an impression on me. Yes, they are a group of men, average about 65, who said YES to this vocation of priesthood many years ago. But what impressed me was their resiliency. You see this area of the US is ground zero for the grand jury report that came … Continued