ST. JOHN – At Holy Hour, discerners set their eyes on the Eucharistic Lord. At a discussion about facets of the priestly lifestyle, some potential seminarians initially cast their eyes down, only to lift them as they witnessed an inspired brotherhood.
The Andrew Dinner hosted on Dec. 3 at the day chapel at St. John the Evangelist was a call particularly to young men who are exploring thoughts about their vocational future. Invited by a diocesan priest, encouraged by family or friends, or on an individual quest, each discerner prayerfully entered a sacred space and then enjoyed casual fellowship over supper.
Queen of All Saints, Michigan City, parishioner John LaCorte, who formally entered the Catholic Church at this year’s Easter Vigil was amazed at the camaraderie among the priests who presented at the event, which assuaged certain concerns.
“I think the big question is: Where does Jesus want me in his plan of salvation and where can I best serve Him and His Church?” said LaCorte, 23. “I think the perception of some sort of loneliness is the biggest fear … I think a lot of the priests that we’ve seen here tonight showed that that’s not the case.”
Father Jacob McDaniel, chaplain of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso, raised the monstrance during benediction as about 20 invitees fell to their knees in prayer. SJE praise group leader Alison Powell later invoked the Holy Spirit’s guidance in song.
Bishop Robert J. McClory delivered a sermon in which he invited discerners to follow in the example of those people who first believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Extrapolating on the namesake dinner, he spoke of the apostle Andrew as the “first believer” in Jesus’ ministry, after the Lord’s mother, the Virgin Mary.
From Scripture, it is traditionally held that Andrew was first to share the Good News, having located his brother Simon to bring him before Jesus. In the presence of the one who John the Baptist had just called, “the Lamb of God,” Jesus gazed upon Simon and said, “You shall be called Cephas (or rock, translated to Peter.)”
Bishop McClory revisited an earlier line in that narrative (John 1, 35-44), “What do you seek?” which was Jesus’ inquiry of the men who were following. The bishop said Andrew (and, as it is traditionally believed, Gospel-writer John) replied, “Where are you staying?” expressing their zeal for the Lord.
Vocations Office Assistant Jo Anne Rosenow created a hospitable dinner setting where print resources were made available to event participants. Casual fellowship preceded the service of Italian cuisine.
Father Nathaniel Edquist, diocesan vocations director and pastor of Holy Family Parish in LaPorte, joined other diocesan priests including Father Zachary Glick, Father Roque Meraz, Father Declan McNicholas and Father David Kime, each hosting a table in SJE’s Trinity Hall.
Father Glick introduced himself and shared the impactful moments of his first six months of priestly ministry, beginning with ordination at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary last June.
“Some of the highlights have been certainly celebrating the sacraments, certainly the Mass and the Sacrament of Confession, saying the words of Jesus at the Last Supper during the Eucharistic Prayer and absolving sins in confession – there’s nothing more powerful than that in your daily life as a priest,” said Father Glick, associate pastor of QAS.
The young priest, who started to seriously discern a call to the ordained life during his senior year of college, told the young men gathered, “Your prayer life is like the foundation of a building and the rest of your life is that building. So, if your prayer life is strong, everything else in your life kind of falls into place.”
Among their tablemates, discerners tackled questions such as: “What did you experience while praying the Holy Hour?” and “What is Jesus asking of me right now in my life?”
Light and uplifting anecdotes were interspersed with stories of deep self-evaluation.
An eye-opening event for Isaac Ford, a homeschooled teen from Wanatah, the Andrew Dinner showed him that a life-changing call to the priesthood is less about what is given up, but what is gained. He explained that a cultural and spiritual pendulum is swinging in the U.S.
“I see (among) other young men a rise in them going into the priesthood. Whereas in my parent’s (generation), I don’t think they would ever have considered it. Many of my friends are really considering it,” said Ford, a Sacred Heart parishioner.
Quiet time before the Lord and fellowship with other men on their faith journey was a beneficial mix for all involved, according to Father Edquist. “I think it was a beneficial experience for both priests and discerners. The young men shared openly about their experiences in prayer and showed a genuine interest in discerning God’s call.”
Like LaCorte, 15-year-old Alexander Brown of Chesterton found his way to the Catholic Church through much discovery and prayer. In just months, he went from an unchurched youth mourning the loss of a family member, to asking questions about the meaning of life, to pursuing full communion in the Universal Church.
Whatever the calling one adventures, Brown said that cradle Catholics and converts alike are called to rediscover their faith.
“I see a difference mainly because when one grows up in the faith, I feel that one can fall away from it a lot easier, rather than finding the faith … You sort of grow up with the main thoughts of ‘I believe in Christ and I know who God is,’ but you may not always truly know who He is.
Brown continued, “We all find our faith again when we truly give our life to Christ.”
Caption: Bishop Robert J. McClory (left) greets discerners including Alexander Brown (right), 15, during the Andrew Dinner on Dec. 3 at St. John the Evangelist in St. John. The event, hosted by the diocesan vocations office team, is a causal gathering designed to support those who may have a calling to the priesthood and is based on the traditional view that Andrew the apostle was first to share the Good News, having located his brother Simon to bring him before Jesus. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)