Fr. Clark Speaks on Vocations at Front Royal Parish

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/17/02)

Father Curtis Clark, director of the diocesan Vocations Office, spoke to approximately 1,200 parents, children and other parishioners at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal last weekend as part of National Vocation Promotion Week.

St. John’s Vocation Promotion Committee invited Father Clark to spend the weekend at the parish, where he spoke at all the weekend Masses.

In his Saturday Vigil Mass homily about Jesus’ baptism, Father Clark said, "Baptism is a calling, a vocation to come follow Christ in a very intimate way."

About 40 parents came to hear Father Clark’s talk, "How to Encourage Vocations in Your Family" on Saturday evening. "Love always requires a free choice … as parents you may offer an invitation" to a vocation, he told them. Attending daily Mass, being mindful of the Church seasons, receiving the Sacraments frequently, family prayer, taking children to ordinations and visiting priests or religious were suggested as ways parents can encourage vocations in their families.

Father Clark told the assembly that seminarians often have a hard time making a commitment because they are afraid to lose their freedom. "Choosing a vocation is not going to take away your freedom, but will make you free," he said.

Father Clark visited with about 200 kindergarten through 12th-grade religious education students in their classrooms between the 9:15 and 11:45 a.m. Masses.

On Sunday afternoon, Father Clark gave a presentation, "Hearing God’s Call" for 50 young people ages 11-18. "God calls each of us for a reason and He’s certainly going to tell you what that reason is," Father Clark said.

Local Pax Christi Sisters Martha and Maria Guadalupe shared their vocation stories with the girls who attended.

Father Clark spoke separately with the boys. "The priesthood is the greatest vocation — you enter deeply into people’s lives. … Faith, hope and love is the job description of the priesthood," Father Clark told them.

Parish Vocation Promoter Theresa Bergida, who along with her husband Mike, arranged the weekend, said she was "really pleased" at how well it went. "Father Clark did such a good job reaching people at every level, from the parents to the children," she said.  

Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.