During National Vocations Awareness Week, pray young people answer the call

Courtesy photo

+ Enlarge

On Oct. 21, diocesan seminarians Tristan Dillon and Sergio Chavez received candidacy at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon. At the Mass of Candidacy, they were asked about their resolve to complete their preparation to give faithful service to Christ and to his body, the Church. Upon final approval for Holy Orders, the seminarians are scheduled to be ordained deacons in June.

Fr. Joseph Delka

Diocesan Vocations Director

The saints are real. Holiness is real and it is beautiful. This is something I learned time and again while at the seminary in Rome. Everywhere I went I saw the marks left by men and women who took the Gospel seriously and followed Jesus Christ. The saints were real men and women of flesh and blood. They came from different backgrounds, times and places, yet they all had one thing in common: their love for Jesus Christ. 

The saints teach us that holiness is possible and that it is worth every effort. The saints teach us what it means to hear the Word of God and to answer his call. The question of striving to be a saint is also a question of vocation: how is God calling me to become a saint?

Nov. 1-7 is National Vocations Awareness Week. It reminds us of the importance of encouraging everyone (and especially our young men and women) to follow God’s call. Our call to sanctity is lived out in many ways. As members of the Body of Christ, all of us have our place and the particular work to which we are called. Fulfilling our call to be saints includes our particular vocations – marriage, priesthood, religious life.

God is calling. Who will respond?

As vocations director for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, it is my particular work to encourage others to be open to the call to the priesthood and the religious life, but this isn’t my work alone. That work belongs to all of us. The call to embrace the priesthood and religious life are out there, but they don’t fall from the sky! They come from within our community. Our future priests are among your sons, grandsons and brothers. Our future religious sisters consecrated to the Lord are among your daughters, granddaughters and sisters.

God is calling. Who will answer?

Please pray especially for our young men and women who are wondering what God has in store for them in the future. Encourage them to be open to the Lord and not be afraid to say “yes” to his call. God is calling them to something wonderful! So pray for them and encourage them to pray and strive to be saints and follow the Lord with all their heart, mind and soul.