Over the past few weeks, the Diocese of Gaylord has placed brochures in parishes of the Diocese to announce a “Vocation Pathway” plan. It is ambitious: according to the brochure, the “plan’s goal is to sustain 15 seminarians, ensuring we have enough priests to serve our parishes and provide the sacraments”.
Bishop Walsh has appointed “a team of six priests”. The names of those priests, however, was not announced. Included in the duties of these priests is the following: ” Their focus is on building relationships with young men, inviting them to vocation events, and walking with them as they discern God’s call to the priesthood.”
The Vocation Pathway strategy is listed as follows: Form a vocation team, identify young men, accompany men in discernment, and apply for seminary formation. The brochure then invites parishioners to pray for vocations.
We are of course hopeful that this initiative bears fruit. But will it be enough? The rollout of this Vocation Pathway plan seems to be a start, but which priests are involved? Do the six priests include Fr. Donald Libby, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Cedar, and home to the vast majority of vocations to the diocesan priesthood (and at least two to the religious life in the past 4 years)?
When Gaylord Diocesan Watch typed in “Vocation Pathway” in the Diocesan website search bar, the only link that popped up was a link to a listing of priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse! Perhaps the Diocese needs to review its current format of its website. Or could it be intentional; after all, with the amount of disordered clergy, maybe it is a reasonable bit of information for a prospective seminarian to review prior to signing up for the seminary.
The key to vocations, in addition to prayer and sacrifice, is establishing connections not only with prospective seminarians but with mothers and fathers. If there is not an element of trust between the parents, the prospective vocation, and the clergy, it may be impossible for anyone to consider a vocation without parental support and encouragement. Parents have good reason to be skeptical of seminaries and religious orders. Many of them have abandoned their core missions in the Church. Additionally, it is very difficult to find ANY seminary that is properly forming priests (even if the teaching in the seminary is orthodox) for the very difficult assignment of the vocation. All of this can be overcome with prayer and hard work and consistently working on relationships based on transparency, accountability, respect, and humility. We will continue to pray for priests, properly formed, and holy!