By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/10/05)

Neither rain, sleet or snow can stop the U.S. Postal Service, and it also didn’t stop Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde from celebrating Mass with the eighth-graders of diocesan schools.

"I pray every day for you that you will come to discover what it is that God wants you to do in your future life," the bishop told the more than 1,000 eighth-graders from nearly 30 Catholic schools.

The students gathered at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale on the snowy Tuesday morning where the eighth-graders served as lectors, altar servers, petition readers, gift bearers and ushers.

Bishop Loverde was joined by seven diocesan priests in celebrating Mass, including Father Brian Bashista, diocesan director of vocations.

"God is choosing some of you right here to be priests or religious," the bishop said. "I do not know who among you God is calling, but if you ask Him, He will let you know. I invite you to go to Jesus and let Him talk to your heart. Every day ask Him to help you follow Him more closely. Ask Him to help you know what He wants you to do and be in your future lives."

The Mass is organized by the diocesan Office of Vocations each year to serve as a pre-graduation ceremony for eighth-grade students. It offers them the chance to meet Bishop Loverde and Father Bashista and reminds them that they may be called by God to serve Him in the religious life.