Dear Friends:
As you know, the Archdiocese of Hartford is actively engaged in a program that promotes vocations to the priesthood. Already now, for over a year, we have been praying the Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood after every Mass. While the Archbishop asked that it be prayed after every weekend Mass, we have been praying it after every Mass, weekdays included. Our prayer efforts have borne some significant fruit, and we should be grateful to God for that. It is my understanding that five men will begin their seminary studies in the fall, the most we have had in a number of years. I will try to obtain their names, and then list them in the bulletin so that all of us can pray for them each day by name. The recent “Called By Name” initiative in which parishioners across the Archdiocese of Hartford were asked to give the names of men whom they considered to be possible candidates for the priesthood resulted in over four hundred names being submitted. The names of six to eight men in our own parish are among them.
Vocations to the priesthood are essential for the life of the Church. Without sufficient numbers of priests, access to the sacraments and pastoral care could be severely curtailed. So I urge you to continue to pray for priestly vocations, using the Archdiocesan prayer, as well as including it as a specific intention in your daily prayers. The Rosary is also effective in asking God for an increase in vocations.
The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is doing quite well. Our parish, at this point, has pledged some $137,000 toward our goal of $160,000. If you have not yet made a gift or a pledge, please consider doing so. No gift or pledge is too small. I ask, not only because I would like to see our parish reach its goal, but especially because I believe in all of the good that the Appeal does, both for the Archdiocese and its important work, but also for so many in need across Hartford, New Haven, and Litchfield counties. There are envelopes for the Appeal at the doors of both churches.
Have a good week!