Busloads of eighth-graders from diocesan schools packed Holy
Spirit Church in Annandale March 8 for the annual Vocations
Mass.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde was the celebrant, with
Fathers John M. O’Donohue, pastor; Joel D. Jaffe, director of
vocations; Deacon Nicholas J. LaDuca and priests of the
diocese concelebrating.
In his homily, the bishop welcomed the students, calling them
the “young church.”
Bishop Loverde said that the day’s Gospel from St. Mark was
the story of a young man who ran up to Jesus and knelt before
Him asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus told him to follow the commandments, especially how to
treat others. When the man said he did that, Jesus replied,
“You are lacking in one thing. Go sell what you have, and
give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then
come, follow me.”
The young man balked at the suggestion because he was rich.
His face dropped, and he walked away.
The bishop said the man was not evil because he was rich. The
man was attached to money.
Bishop Loverde said the students may not have independent
wealth, but they could still become attached to objects like
electronic devices, clothes and social media.
Because of an attachment to things, we may not hear the call
from God to the priesthood or religious life, he said.
The bishop said most of the students will be called to the
married life. But there will be some who are called to be
priests or religious men and women. He said they should be
ready to respond generously to God. He told the students to
be receptive to God’s call to service.
“Here I am Lord,” should be the students’ response, he said.
As he often does when he speaks about his vocation and his 50
years as a priest, the bishop said, “I would do it all over
again in a heartbeat. It’s a great life.”
