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This weekend several men from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers were ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York.  Our best wishes and prayers go with them as they begin their new ministry in the name of the Lord.

Hopefully, we here at Annunciation – Our Lady of Fatima pray fervently today and every day for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  Our  Holy Father makes a special point of the truth that the local parish community and, in fact, each and every Catholic family ought to be the source of vocations.  He tells us that the need for priests is one of the most crucial problems facing the Church today.  If priests are lacking in number, then in some sense Jesus too is lacking in our world to a greater extent, as in His Eucharist and His forgiveness.  So why pray?   Because the Lord promises to give us what we need if we ask!  This Archdiocese will face a tremendous need for more priests in the years ahead.  We need to ask for priests now, so that our children and grandchildren will have ready access to the sacraments in the future.  As you know, to carry out the Church’s mission to bring Jesus to the world, there is the indispensable need for consecrated men and women to answer Jesus’ call to be priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters.

Today I am asking our young people to carefully and prayerfully consider the possibility that Jesus may be calling them to “come, follow Me.”  Jesus is indeed calling our future priests from our own parishes and schools, but it is up to each an every one of us to help them discover the call.  Will you join the effort to build a culture of vocations here at Annunciation – Our Lady of Fatima?

To anyone who might be thinking along these thoughts, remember He is not calling you to an easy life,  a life of fame or glamour.  He is really challenging you to a life that demands the utmost in self-giving, a life completely dedicated to proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior of this world, and to be of service to His people, when convenient or not, when you feel like it or not – to put Jesus and others ahead of your own personal    interests.  It may not sound easy by any means but, take it from one who has traveled that road for many years, it is the most exciting, the most challenging, the most fulfilling, and the most joy-filled life in the world!  Yes, we need more than a few good men and women.  Jesus may be calling your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, to be a priest, deacon, religious brother or sister.  Pray about it, talk about it, then decide.

If you would like to talk it over with any one of us, please feel free to call us at the Rectory at any time.