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Sept. 14, 2006
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What people ask the vocations director |
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“What is your typical candidate like?”
is one question Fr. Lobacz hears from Catholics |
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Fr. Jim Lobacz, vocations director. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero) |
ST. FRANCIS — “How many guys do you have?” I am often asked as director of the vocations office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. There are different ways of answering that. Last year 14 men were accepted. Or I can say 36 seminarians are studying for the priesthood, with one man in English as a second language studies, four in college and 31 in graduate studies.
I am also asked, “Where are you finding these men?” The most common ways are by self-referral, through the Internet and by telephone. More than half of the men contact me themselves, and these are the most promising candidates. They have taken a big step by contacting me, and I make every effort to respond quickly and personally.
About a quarter of the referrals come through priests who have had conversations with the candidates and ask me to initiate the relationship. Referrals from priests have a high success rate.
“What is your typical candidate like?” I’ve been asked. During the past 14 months, 60 percent of the men I have contacted are between the ages of 22 and 30. Some are near the end of undergraduate degree work, but the majority are in their first job after college.
The men make regular use of technology. I have met only one candidate who does not carry a cell phone; many use text messaging regularly in their contact with me. All of them communicate by e-mail, with most checking it more than five or six times a day.
The vocations office Web site, <www.thinkpriest.org>, has a variety of features that the candidates find attractive. Many visit the Web site, make use of on-line discernment tools, check the “Frequently Asked Questions” feature and then contact me. The vocations office staff is working to add streaming audio and video and to begin podcasting.
There is an increase in the number of high school age men interested in priesthood. Some express their interest in the ministry of the church in general or priesthood in particular as they write to the archbishop or bishop petitioning to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Most are not ready to enter a seminary college program right after high school. Their parents often want their sons to experience some years of college before narrowing their career choice. The vocations office will offer programs that encourage them as they complete high school and begin college.
I am asked, “What are you looking for in a candidate?” The person has to be healthy, intelligent, happy, and holy. Good physical health is a requirement because the priestly lifestyle is physically demanding. The complexity of tasks in ministry calls for above-average intelligence. When I say “happy,” I mean that the candidate is psychologically balanced and capable of dealing with life’s ups and downs. Holiness has many facets, but it usually means that the person regularly participates in the sacraments, prays privately and publicly, does spiritual reading, has outlets for serving others, and may participate in retreats.
When I am asked, “What can I do to help?” my response is: invite men to consider priesthood as their calling. A priest will often say he began to consider the priesthood because someone invited him to do so. Invite, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
Fr. Lobacz can be contacted at vocations@sfs.edu or by calling (414) 747-6437. |
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