The challenge and the hope

In our time, the church faces an urgent challenge in the decreasing number of priestly and religious vocations. In the next 10 years, 50 priests will reach retirement age in our diocese, which is much more than the number of men we expect to ordain. Without the priest, there is no Eucharist, the lifeblood of the church that nourishes all her charitable and missionary efforts.

Yet, in our time there is also great hope. In the last five years, the number of our seminarians has doubled! Such a gift is evidence of God’s faithfulness, a witness to the power of prayer, and a testament to the generosity of these men. The seed of vocations, watered by prayer, has fallen on the good soil of their hearts, and we are seeing the harvest grow more and more abundant.

Perseverance in hope

While the last five years do give cause for hope, they do not give cause to relax our efforts. Central Texas continues to grow, and a smaller number of priests will serve a larger number of parishioners. It is time to redouble our efforts, heeding the words of St. Paul: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest.” (Gal 6:9) His words are an appropriate response to Jesus’ command to pray for vocations: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38)

For the greater glory of God

The current context of vocations in our diocese is urgent, but the fruitfulness of promoting vocations is timeless. Jesus tells us, “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (Jn 15:8) It would be difficult to find a way to bear more fruit than by inspiring other priestly and religious vocations.

Think of the person who inspired Mother Teresa. Think of the prayers for more vocations that God answered by calling St. Francis. All the wonderful works of mercy that those saints accomplished in their lifetime are thanks to those who inspired them, thanks to those who prayed for them. In heaven, we will thank not only Mother Teresa and St. Francis for their inspiring lives, but we will also thank those souls who helped them to hear and answer the call.

May we all aspire to be one of those souls praying for future priestly and religious vocations. In our efforts to give God glory and so prove to be his disciples, the promotion of vocations is a perennial and primary focus. As we dedicate this issue of the Catholic Spirit to the theme of vocations, may we also dedicate ourselves to the greater glory of God by promoting and praying for more laborers in his harvest.