Take some time to meditate on the Holy Father's homily!

Is God Calling you?

Blessed Summer!

 

“To you, young people, I say: if you hear the Lord’s call, do not reject it!” 

 Blessed John Paul II

Dear young people,

In every age, the Lord God calls men and women to give of themselves to a life of dedicated service for the sake of His kingdom.  Today more than ever, he turns to you saying “Deny your very self, take up your cross, and Follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

This gentle and challenging invitation is for all of us to follow in the footstep of the great disciples, who gave their lives for the sake of the gospel.

Today the voice of God resounds ever clearer when we can encounter him in prayer, “Without prayer there is no experience of God.”  I encourage any one discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life to begin and practice the following:

• Personal Prayer
• Daily Mass
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Marian Devotion - pray the Rosary and ask Our Lady to intercede always for you.
• Get a spiritual director - a priest or religious to guide you in this process
• Spend time in reading spiritual text
• By the way, I suggest that you read TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? Lessons from the Apostles Peter by Cardinal Timothy M Dolan - this book is easy to read, it will take you 3 days to finish but has lessons of a life time.
• Another must read is TO SAVE A THOUSAND SOULS: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood by Fr. Brett A Brannen.  This book I believe will help answer all the questions you have.
• Talk to your parish priest about your discernment and I am sure that he will help you out.
• Remember to call your vocation office, there are people ready to help you and yes you can also talk to your Bishop - he will be delighted to hear from you.
• Remember that you will hear the voice of God to the extent that you are in constant communication with him, so it boils down to Pray, pray and pray and "Be not afraid"
• "DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU" and you will be FINE.

 

Dear Friend in Christ,

Peace and blessings to you! 

I pray this note finds you doing very well and that your summer has started off well.  I write to let you know of my prayers for you this summer and to inform you of the upcoming vocation efforts across the diocese and beyond.

Dates                                    Events                                                  Place

June 15^th -17^th                    Companion Camp                         Conception Seminary College

July 6^th – 8^th                        Steubenville Conference              Springfield, Missouri

July 13^th – 15^th                    Steubenville Conference              Springfield, Missouri

July 20^th – 21^st                    Church Teaches Forum                 Louisville, (KY)

October 7^th                         Project Andrew Dinner                 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Springfield, MO

December 2^nd                    Project Andrew Dinner                 St. Vincent DePaul, Cape Girardeau, MO

If I can be of any help to you, please feel free to email or call me anytime!  May your summer be a peace-filled one as you continue to discern the Will of God for you.

Sincerely in Christ

Fr. Patrick Ike Nwokoye

Director of Vocation Promotion

pnwokoye@dioscg.org

573-335-3899