Next Saturday, May 25th, several young men from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, Yonkers, will be ordained to the priesthood for the Church of New York.  Our best wishes and prayers go with them as they begin their new ministry in the name of the Lord.

May we here at Annunciation – Our Lady of Fatima pray fervently today and every day for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  Our Holy Father makes a special point of the truth that the local parish community and, in fact, each and every family ought to be the source of vocations.  He tells us that the need for priests is one of the most crucial problems facing the Church today.  Jesus did not wish for a church without priests.  If priests are lacking in number, then Jesus too is lacking in the world to a greater extent, as in His Eucharist and His forgiveness.  To carry out the Church’s mission to bring Jesus to the world, there is the indispensable need for consecrated men and women to answer Jesus’ call to be priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters.

Today we ask our young people to carefully and prayerfully consider the possibility that Jesus may be calling them to “Come, follow Me.”  If so, He is not calling you to an easy life, a life of fame or glamour.  He is really challenging you to a life that demands the utmost in self-giving, a life completely dedicated to proclaiming Jesus as Lord and to be of service to His people, when            convenient or not, when you feel like it or not – to put Jesus and others ahead of your own personal interests.  It is not an easy life by any means.  But take it from one who has traveled that road for many years, it is the most exciting, the most challenging, the most fulfilling, and the most joy-filled life in the world.  Yes, we need more than a few good men and women.  Jesus may be calling you or your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, to be a priest, deacon, religious brother or sister.  Pray about it, talk about it; then decide.

If you would like to talk it over with any one of us, please feel free to call us at the Rectory at any time.