Ordination weekend is always a great day for the Church. This has been the case for two millennia since the Apostles asked the Holy Spirit to raise up new hands to assist them in the work. This is no exception today as the Diocese of Providence prepares to welcome three men to their new ministry of priest to serve the people of God in our local parishes. They will be called upon to enter into the greatest and the most tragic events of people’s lives. From the first moments of life until last breaths and all times in between, the faithful will call upon their priest to be with them, to celebrate with them, and to cry with them. Most importantly, they will bring Christ to the people in Word and in Sacrament.
Besides prayer for these men, the ministry of invitation must also be for those the Church does not yet know. While it is imperative to pray for more men to accept God’s call to the ministry, it is a necessary work of the faithful to actively seek out and summon men forward.
The cacophony of worldly attractions can be so overwhelming that the voice of the Holy Spirit, often heard in whispers, is more silent than ever. More frequently, invitations are not coming from within families, fewer young men are experiencing the call at school or even in their local parishes. Many families who identify as Catholic no longer even pray at home, so the call to service must come from unusual sources. Praying for vocations is not enough; it must be followed by active invitation.
