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Diocese of Belleville
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New Initiative by Diocese of Belleville to Encourage Recruitment for the Priesthood
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 DIRECTORReverend Joel Seipp
618-687-2012
pastor@sasmboro.org
VOCATIONS PROMOTERS
Reverend Nicholas Fleming
618-974-9184
nickfleming91@gmail.comReverend Carl Schrage
618-234-1166
carlschrage@illinoisalumni.org
DIRECTOR OF SEMINARIANS
Reverend Nicholas G. Junker
618-722-5035
njunker08@hotmail.com -
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
June 2022
June 26:
“When I was 15, my father died suddenly; it’s a low point in my life, but also a turning point. My mom, who had converted to Catholicism several years earlier, encouraged me to speak to our parish priest. I quickly saw a transformation within myself and began to think, “If God is helping me through this Catholic priest, there must be something to this Catholic Church.” After my confirmation, the Lord said to me in prayer, “Anthony, you see what I’ve done for you through the priesthood; now go and do likewise.” I was ordained in June 2018 and I wake up every morning thanking God for allowing me to be his servant.
Fr. Anthony Stewart; Diocese of Nashville; Columbia Magazine
Feb. 2021
July 2022
July 3:
This weekend, we mark another anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. “On the 51st anniversary, Charles Carroll, the only Catholic to have signed the Declaration and the last surviving signer, said, “God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these States to the end of time, and that all believing in the religion of Christ may practice the leading principle of charity, the basis of every virtue.” Today is a time for choosing how we will keep faith with the great accomplishments of our Catholic forebears as we seek to make our own contributions. If we or someone in your family is called by the Holy Spirit to a religious vocation we should encourage and accept this challenge as we are all endowed by our Creator with life and liberty. “ Columbia, “Culture of Life”, Oct. 2015, pg. 47.
July 10:
“When I was 8, I penned a rhyme that listed 12 things I liked. Reading it as an adult, I was delighted that “people” had made the list - and disappointed that “ice cream” had not. The verse ended, “I like God the best.” Even then, the Lord was inviting me to be exclusively his own.
I was grateful to my family for giving me the gift of faith. After graduating from college, I served the Church full time for 11 years. I thought I had found my mission to active ministry…” But gradually, in the quiet intimacy of adoring Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, he revealed the difference between doing God’s work and fulfilling his will. Gently, he invited me to embrace a contemplative vocation. “
Sr. John Mark Maria of St. Peter the Apostle; Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Tonopab,AZ. Columbia Dec. 2019
July 17:
“I was 24 years old, and having fallen away from the faith, I felt broken, lost and unfulfilled in life. One Sunday morning, I decided to go back to Mass, where I felt a great peace wash over me. I suddenly fell in love with the Lord and asked him about my vocation in this life. It would still be another 10 years before I entered seminary, but God’s grace always works at the right time. That initial spark of love for the Lord deepened over those years through my experience of going to Mass, confession and Eucharist Adoration, preparing me to finally say yes to the priesthood. Now, as a newly ordained priest of Jesus Christ, I feel fulfilled in answering God’s call.”
Fr. Edward Shikina; Columbus, Ohio Columbia September, 2018, pg. 34
July 24:
“Growing up, I had steadfast examples of always putting family and faith first. My father suggested that perhaps one day I would become a priest. At 15, I met the Oblates of the Virgin Mary at their parish near my home in Long Beach, Calif. I was attracted to their passion for preaching God’s mercy and making the sacraments available around the clock. I maintained spiritual direction through the remainder of high school and a university program in computer science. Finally, only 10 days after my younger sister joined a Dominican congregation, I entered the seminary in Boston. I had embarked on an adventure that would take me to three continents on the path to ministry as an Oblate priest, just like those who had captivated me at 15 - and I love it!”
Fr. Paul M. Nguyen, O.M.V.’ Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Alton IL; Columbia Feb. 2019, pg 34
July 31:
“Growing up, I had a lot of misconceptions about nuns. Primarily, I assumed women became nuns only if they couldn’t find a boyfriend. Why else would a woman give up the joys – marriage and family – as celibate priests, with none of the “superpowers”? Then, in college, I actually met nuns and I was stunned. They were beautiful! And smart! And had personalities! I opened the door of my heart. Not much- just a crack. But it was a crack big enough for Jesus to get his toe in and open it a lot wider. I often recalled the words of my spiritual director: “We all have a natural call to marriage, but some of us have a supernatural call to celibacy.” My desire for a spouse helps me lean into Christ as my Bridegroom. And my desire for children molds me into a spiritual mother to many more children than I could otherwise have.”
Mother Natalia; Christ the Bridegroom Monastery, Burton, Ohio. Columbia Magazine April 2022
August 2022
August 7th:
“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 14th:
“I learned from working in summer catechetical programs that I loved sharing the faith and that community prayer was a great source of strength. As I taught children about being open to the different vocations and God’s plan for their life, I began to take this advice to heart. I soon visited a Convent and fell in love with the charism: bringing Christ to the young and the young to Christ. Through the generosity of fellow parishioners, I was able to pay off my student loans before entering the convent. This is truly a blessing, and their prayerful support gives me the courage to keep saying ‘YES’.” Sister April Hoffman, Novice, Salesian Sisters, Newton, N.J. Columbia, “Keep the Faith Alive”, October 2015, pg. 50
August 22nd:
“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.
Fr. Ronald Angervil; Diocese of Catharine, Ontario; Columbia Magazine May 2021
August 29th:
“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.
