Have you ever wondered who answered
the call made during the weekly petitions at church praying for vocations? The
Office of Vocations has created a poster featuring more than 60 men and women
in formation for the priesthood or religious life.
“One thing that really struck me
looking at the poster is I feel like it radiates joy,” said Anne-Marie Minnis,
Office of Vocations event coordinator. “Everyone is smiling. Everyone is happy.
It is a look that you don’t see a lot in our world today.”
The smiling faces are in religious
orders and seminaries around the world, including Paraguay and Israel.
The poster was inspired by a similar
one created by the Diocese of Houston, said Minnis.
“To see so many men and women from our diocese
entering the religious life is a deeply encouraging sign that our families and
our parishes are doing something very right,” said Father J.D. Jaffe, director
of vocations.
Minnis explained that there are several routes to entering formation. If someone enters the seminary for the diocese they go through the diocesan office, but it is not required for those joining a religious order.
Many of the names on the poster are
familiar to the St. Therese Vocation Society, a group that prays for vocations.
Members receive a calendar to urge prayers for specific men and women
discerning a vocation.
A poster from the Office of Vocations features more than 60 men and women in formation for the priesthood or religious life.
For Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist
John Frances LaFever, her desire to join the Franciscans began with a chocolate
cake.
“One of my first experiences with the
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist was one sister’s expression of gratitude
through a gift of homemade cake to my co-worker,” she said. “My community, with
devotion to Christ in the Eucharist, takes extra care in the preparation of and
presentation of food, and on a very human level. That was part of my first
attraction.”
Sister LaFever, a Fairfax native, lives
at the community motherhouse in Meriden, Conn. Positive experiences of priests
and parish staff helped inspire her vocation and challenged her to learn more. Her
discernment included her parish priest, the diocesan women’s discernment group
and a spiritual director.
The vocations office helps young
people discern a vocation through activities that put them in contact with
priests and religious.
“Father Jaffe always says the
vocations that we have are a credit to families and to the priests and
religious who are working in the diocese inspiring young people to pursue their
vocation,” said Minnis.
Dominican Brother Brendan Baran said
the Arlington Diocese had a huge influence on his vocation. He moved to
Alexandria in 2011 and became active in the Young Adult Group and Men’s Group
at Blessed Sacrament Church.
“Father Rich Dyer was especially
influential and supportive in helping me discern my vocation,” he said. “Father
Jaffe helped me consider a vocation with the diocese, and was very supportive
in my discernment with the Dominicans, as well.”
Order of Discalced Carmelites Brother
Joseph (Gannon) of the Holy Family experienced an interior call to the
priesthood during Holy Thursday Mass in 2013; he entered the postulancy in
Milwaukee in November 2014.
“The wonderful spiritual life found in
the Diocese of Arlington was a great support in discerning my vocation,” he
said, adding that he considers Winchester his home. “Of particular note are the
vibrant, reverent liturgies and excellent, nourishing preaching found at each
parish within the diocese that I have ever attended.”
He said no single person impacted him
“but the collective witness of our amazing priests has always been a special
inspiration.”
“I made several visits to different
communities of religious men, but once I visited the Discalced Carmelite Friars
in the winter of 2013, I knew that I had found what I was looking for,” he
said.
Brother Gannon is doing apostolic work
with the Secular Carmelites in this area and hopes to attend Catholic
University in Washington in the fall to pursue a philosophy degree.
Minnis said everyone on the poster is
in formation currently. They are either from the Arlington Diocese or spent several
years during their discernment period in the diocese.
“It is really neat to see the
diversity that’s on the poster,” said Minnis. “God calls all types of people at
all times of life.”
The posters will be inserted in parish
bulletins the weekend of May 6-7. You can also contact the Office of Vocations
to request a poster at [email protected] or 703/841-2514.
