Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Today begins National Vocation Awareness Week (Nov. 5-11).  Specifically the Church is referring to vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.  This is a vocation/calling to serve the Lord in imitation of His life for the good of the Church.  The Catholic Church and Orthodox Church have their existence in the abiding Presence of Christ through the Sacraments most especially in the Holy Eucharist.  Our Lord promised to remain with the Church He founded through the celebration of the Seven Sacraments which convey the grace of His Presence:  ” I will be with you always.”  This He promised and fulfills daily.  But how and through whom does He fulfill His promise?   Through His Apostles (the first bishops) and through His bishops and priests to this very day.  

     The power and authority to administer the Sacraments has been passed down for two thousand years beginning with the Apostles who ordained (empowered) their successors, who ordained their successors, who ordained their successors etc.  Thus, the unbroken chain of Apostolic successions continues until the end of the world.  But always this continuous succession has depended upon men responding to the Lord’s call freely and humbly.  When a possible vocation candidate is approached about being a priest the general reaction is: “surely not me!”  But indeed one may see something in that young man that indicates that the Lord may be calling him but he doesn’t want to acknowledge it.  Well to quote a familiar phrase these days: “if you see something, say something”  Vocation awareness is the work of all of us, not just your priests.  If you desire to be fed with God’s Holy Word and His life-giving Sacraments then take up the mission of steering young men toward the priesthood.  Your reward will be great.

     The end of this week we commemorate Veterans Day.  There are many veterans in our parish and community.  Let them know how grateful we are to them for the sacrifices they have made to preserve our freedom and the God-given virtues that we cherish.

Finally remember to set your clocks back as we return to standard time.

With Blessings,

Father Langan