Priesthood Sunday
“There are probably hundreds of thousands of vocations hanging from heaven on silken cords; prayer is the sword that cuts them” —Blessed Fulton L. Sheen
Dear Parishioners-
This Sunday in the Diocese of Cleveland we celebrate Priesthood Sunday. As has been the custom for many years, the seminarians are dispatched to parishes to speak on vocations to the priesthood. I am happy to welcome Stephen Vavro to Holy Spirit. Stephen is from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Parma, OH, and is in his first year at St. Mary Seminary. Also, I baptized him! For the record, I baptized his sister, too. I didn’t baptize his older brother, but I am the brother’s Godfather. Stephen’s family are some of my dearest friends. His father, Larry, you might remember as being the presenter at our evening on identifying and avoiding fraud. I have been present at most of the major events in Stephen’s life, so I am more than happy to welcome him to Holy Spirit.
This year there are 47 men studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland, a number of which some larger (arch)dioceses are envious. Our seminaries also have some students from the Diocese of Youngstown, the Capuchin Franciscans, and from the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea. I know many of these men and they are very fine candidates. We pray that they will one day enhance the Diocese of Cleveland with their priestly ministry.
Yes, Cleveland is doing well with vocations; over the last two years we there have been 15 priests ordained for the Diocese. We will add three more this May. There has not been a year in living memory when the Diocese of Cleveland has not ordained at least one priest.
This doesn’t mean we don’t need more priests. We always do. We need to continue to pray for more men going into the seminary, for their preference, for those ordained, for retired priests, and for priests who have died.
I encourage you to think about the priests that have made an impact in your life: the priest that baptized you, the priest that gave you your First Communion, the priest that married you and your spouse, the priests that have celebrated Masses you have attended, the priests that have heard your confessions, the priests that have anointed you and your loved ones, the priests that have buried your loved ones. Today is a good day to thank God for their ministry and to pray for more priests and seminarians to continue their ministry,
Sincerely,
Rev. Charles F. Strebler
Pastor
