Fr. Brett Brannen on priestly discernment!

Dear Friends,

Enjoy Fr. Brannen talk about Vocation to the Priesthood and remember to follow him whenever he calls.                Enjoy!

What's next?

Last week I joined over six thousand young adults in Orlando as we all attended SEEK2013 conference sponsored by FOCUS!  The journey to Orlando was fun and the days spent in company of these young people, fellow priests was equally amazing!  

I began with this trip because of what I saw and witnessed - truly a hymn of praise to God for the gift of our young men and women who daily in different colleges around the country strive to be authentic witnesses of the gospel and everyday are equally reminded that they have to swim against the current.  It was refreshing to see that the faith is very alive and when lived in its entirety is not only relevant but also a means of salvation.

During the week, I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of young men and women whose reflection about the conference ended with, What's next?  What are we to do?  What awaits us?

I dare say that what awaits us is the very love of God the Father, who continually calls us to himself, what awaits us is the very love of God the Father singing an incredible hymn of love to the human heart  with a refrain so familiar "Come, Follow Me."  It is easy for us to panic in this day and age, where it would seem that we live in a world full of uncertainties and yet this is a great time to be alive.  What is needed is young men and women who will give of themselves to the gospel teaching and surrender their will to the Will of the Father so that he can work marvelous deeds in and through them.

My prayer this year is that we do not complicate our lives by waiting for the "big things" to happen so that we can follow God, rather through the little things of life, we all can see that the Lord God is truly calling us to open ourselves to His redeeming love where He alone can fulfill our every desires.  Until next time, listen to that magnificent line - its simple and not complicated "Come, Follow Me."  That is how our God operates!  So, keep it simple and follow Him.

Responsibility in vocation promotion!

"Every member of the Church has a certain responsibility to promote priestly and religious vocations.  The starting point of vocation promotion is prayer: Pray often for the gift of laborers to gather the harvest that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel, and pray that those who are called will have the courage and faith to take the next step.  Also encourage youth who display the requisite qualities and character to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life." Bishop James V. Johnston