This weekend we welcome Fr. Adam MacDonald to St. Isidore. Fr. MacDonald is the Vocation Director with the Divine Word Missionaries. He is here to help us celebrate “Vocation Sunday.” The Divine Word Missionaries played a large part in my discernment regarding my vocation. While in grade school I joined their Vocation Club. However, when it came time to enter a high school seminary back in 1965, I chose to enter our archdiocesan seminary, Sacred Heart Seminary High School.
I was in fifth grade when I began to seriously consider the priesthood. I am sometimes asked why I wanted to be a priest. First, my parents, Monica and Leonard, were practicing Catholics who truly lived their faith. They sent us to Catholic grade school, where I was much influenced by the religious women who taught there. I was also influenced by Fr. Ray Marshall, the pastor of St. Dorothy Parish in Warren, of which my family were founding members. I looked up to Fr. Marshall and saw him as a humble, holy, and happy man. I think my “call” came through my parents, my teachers at St. Rose and St. Clement Grade Schools, and Fr. Marshall. I saw the priesthood as a way to serve God and God’s people. I am approaching the 42nd anniversary of my ordination and in these many great years I have been and continue to be extremely happy as a priest. My hope is parents take time this weekend to have a serious discussion with their children regarding if God is calling them to a ministry in the church as a priest, religious man or woman, or lay ecclesial minister. We thank Fr. MacDonald for his message this weekend.
Today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings our Christmas Season to an end. We thank everyone who helped to make this a very bright Christmas at St. Isidore. Special thanks to all parishioners who joined us to celebrate the many bright feasts of the Christmas Season. We are grateful to all of our liturgical ministers: ushers, lectors, eucharistic ministers, Mass servers, sacristans, and especially members of our music ministry for their magnificent Christmas concerts and leading us in joyful praise throughout the season.
Blessings,
Fr. Ron