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Diocese of Belleville
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New Initiative by Diocese of Belleville to Encourage Recruitment for the Priesthood
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021
LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A PRIEST
Bishop Michael McGovern will host a St. Andrew Dinner for young men interested in learning more about the Catholic priesthood on Sunday, July 18, 2021. The St. Andrew Dinner will be held at St. Mary Parish in Carlyle. All young men ages 14-32 are invited to attend; parents or guardians are also welcome to join us.
The event will begin at 5:00pm with Evening Prayer and will be followed by dinner and conversation.
This is a terrific opportunity for hearing some of our seminarians speak about preparing for the priesthood; there will also be time for questions and conversation with Fr. Steven Beatty, Vocations Director.
For more information, or to RSVP, contact Patti Warner in the Vocations Office at (618) 722.5043, or email to: pwarner@diobelle.org.
St. Mary Parish is located at 1171 Jefferson Street in Carlyle, IL.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Gracious God,
You have called us through Baptism to discipleship,
believing in your Son, Jesus Christ,
who has sent us to bring the Good News of salvation to the world.
We pray to you, asking that you grant us more priests and religious
who will help us build up your Church in the Diocese of Belleville and the world.
Stir up the grace of a religious vocation in the hearts of many of our youth.
Grant to them the willingness and generosity to give of themselves
in service to our Lord Jesus and his people.
May a new generation of priests, deacons, sisters and brothers
be a sign of your presence among us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
For information on the Diocese of Belleville vocation
opportunities, please click on the link below:
https://www.diobelle.org/vocations
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Diocesan Vocations Contacts
VOCATIONS DIRECTORVery Reverend Steven Beatty, V.F.
618-697-2632
frsteven.beatty@gmail.com
VOCATIONS PROMOTERS
Reverend Nicholas Fleming
618-974-9184
nickfleming91@gmail.comReverend Carl Schrage
618-234-1166
carlschrage@illinoisalumni.orgReverend Joel Seipp
618-244-1559
frjoel@stmarymtvernon.org
DIRECTOR OF SEMINARIANS
Reverend Nicholas G. Junker
618-722-5035
njunker08@hotmail.com -
Diocesan Seminarians
Robert Dodson - Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology
James "Luke" Fitzgerald - Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology
Pictures:
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Casmir Cozzi - Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Joshua Elmore - Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Levi James - Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Thomas Lugge - Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Pictures:
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Adopt a Seminarian!
Please click on the link to find out the ways that you can "Adopt a Seminarian!"
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Vocations Corner
"Vocations Corner" is distributed monthly and provides a weekly thought or meditation for that particular month on vocations.
VOCATIONS CORNER
July 25:
Today’s miracle of the fishes and loaves is a powerful message for all of us. The Lord challenges our faith to know that, through Him, all things are possible. Jesus takes a “little” and makes it “a lot”. He calls us, through this example, to “feed his people”. We might think we are too “little” to handle these things but He can make it “a lot” if we respond. Encourage those around you to consider being one those who will “feed the people” and the Lord work his miracle in us.
August
August 1“As the son of Polish immigrants, I grew up in a good Catholic home. But it wasn’t until I began participating in our parish youth group that I embraced the faith as my own and fell in love with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. A girl I was dating went to daily Mass, and I began going with her. It didn’t take long for my focus to shift from her to what took place in the sanctuary - God coming down to be with his people. I found myself with thoughts like, ‘how would I preach on that Gospel”. I wrestled with the idea of becoming a priest often…. Following high school graduation, I entered seminary and eight years later I was ordained a priest. If God calls you to the priesthood, nothing on earth will give you greater joy.”
Fr. Michael Niemczak; Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M. Columbia Magazine January, 2020
August 8
John’s Gospel today gives us the “Bread of Life” discourse. We are reminded that the Body of Christ – the Living Bread from Heaven – is “my flesh for the life of the world”. We embrace this at every Liturgy when we receive the Eucharist. This is possible for us through the hands of the Priest during every Consecration. We need to encourage young men to consider being “that Priest” who gives us the opportunity to receive the Eucharist each day.
August 15
Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The Gospel tells us of her visit to Elizabeth. Mary, the Mother of Vocations, proclaims her ‘fiat’ out loud. She definitely said YES to God and carried and raised His Son. We likewise need to proclaim our “fiat” – Thy will be done. Our best way to live out our vocation – our calling to be a “proclaimer” of Jesus Christ our Savior. Pray to God that you are truly living your vocation.
August 22
“My vocation was born during a painful time. When I was 15, my mom was abducted and held for ransom in Haiti. In the confusion and despair that followed, I prayed “Lord, your Son died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday. My mother was taken this Friday – would you return her this Sunday? In exchange, I will give you my life.” Thanks be to God, she was returned to us. I believe this experience was the moment when God began to prepare me for my vocation. He brought many people into my life along the way to teach me how to pray and form me in my faith. I eventually said yes to his call and entered seminary. The rest of the journey wasn’t without its challenges, but by then I had learned to turn to the Lord and trust in his guidance.
August 29
“I was born in a small town in Michoacan, Mexico. My mother, a woman of great faith, instilled in me and my five siblings trust in God and kindness toward others. When I turned 15, my family moved to California. It was difficult to leave home, but I soon got used to the new school, friends, and culture. One afternoon, I accompanied a friend to church, more out of duty than desire, and Jesus reminded me that had been waiting for me. I realized how much I had been moving away from him, how much I needed him, and I went to confession. I later encountered the Servants of Mary, Ministers of the Sick, who were visiting the parish. I began to discern, and after high school, I entered my postulancy. I am now a professed junior sister.
Sister Maritza Madrigal; Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick; New York City; Columbia Magazine, June 2020
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"The Veil Removed"
"The Veil Removed is a short film that reveals the coming together of heaven and earth at Mass, as seen by saints and mystics, revealed by Scripture and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church."
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Supporting our Seminarians . . .
Our Belleville Diocese is currently blessed with five (5) seminarians. Meeting the needs of their formation -- tuition, books, room and board and other expenses -- is approximately $47,000 per year for each seminarian. Your contribution to seminarian education is truly an investment in our faith and the life of the Church here in southern Illinois.
