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Vocations Mass inspires youths

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Eighth-graders enjoy lunch following the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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The Vocations Mass for Eighth-Graders was co-sponsored by the Office of Vocations and the Office of Catholic Schools. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Eighth-graders from across the Diocese of Arlington attend the annual Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge greets eighth-graders outside Holy Spirit Church in Annandale following the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Eighth-graders received medals of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Thomas More, diocesan patron saints, at the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Eighth-graders enjoy an ice cream treat following the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge greets eighth-graders outside Holy Spirit Church in Annandale following the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Fr. Edward J. Bresnahan, chaplain at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, mingles with students during lunch following the Vocations Mass for Eighth-graders at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale March 6. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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It’s never too early to consider a vocation. 

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated the annual Vocations Mass
for Eighth-graders at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale March 6.

The event, co-sponsored by the Office of Vocations and the Office of Catholic Schools, included new features this year — a Mass, a vocations program and brown-bag lunch — complete with ice cream — with 14 religious sisters and more than 20 priests.

Father Edward J. Bresnahan, chaplain at Bishop Ireton High School
in Alexandria, served as emcee of a vocations program. Eighth-graders heard
stories from Dominican Sister Kateri Rose, principal of St. Thomas Aquinas
Regional School in Woodbridge; and Father Stephen M. Vaccaro, parochial vicar
of Church of the Nativity in Burke. 

Bishop Burbidge said in his homily that no matter what our age
is, we all share the same call — to be a saint, to be holy and united to God.
He gave the eighth-graders practical suggestions using the words passion,
person, prayer and promise.

“Sometimes God speaks through other people. Listen to what your
pastors, priests, teachers and your loved ones are saying to you,” said Bishop
Burbidge. “It doesn’t mean they are absolutely right, but it could be God
saying something to you.”

At the end of Mass, Bishop Burbidge blessed special medals with
the diocesan patrons St. Thomas More and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on either
side. The medals on chains were distributed after Mass. 

Aidan Foley, an eighth-grader St. Thomas More Cathedral School in
Arlington, was inspired by the stories he heard during the vocations program.
“A lot of what they told me is stuff I may go through in the future,” he said.
“I haven’t thought as hard as others have thought about vocations, but I have
been told by others that I would make a good priest.”

 

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