Dear Brothers and Sisters: “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

In this month’s issue of The Baltimore Beacon, you will read about what is going on with our vocation recruitment, the houses in the Bronx, NY and San Antonio, TX where our seminarians live, study, and pray, as well as get a glimpse at the life of our seminarians on a “pastoral experience” prior to their ordination. While highlighting our seminarians, the words of our Redeemer are never far from mind: “the laborers are few.”

We are thankful for the ordination this summer of Fr. Song You and look forward to celebrating in November the priesthood ordinations of our two Vietnamese confreres, Huan T. Le and Huyen T. Nguyen. God willing, in the summer of 2022 we will celebrate the ordinations of Royce Thomas and Brian Vaccaro. After that the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province will not have a priesthood ordination until 2028 … “so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” 

To all those reading these words I am sure they come as a bit of a shock; they do to me. During my travels when I meet with people, they often ask how our “numbers” are regarding vocations. Our two vocation directors, Fr. Denis Sweeney and Fr. Peter Linh, are out there meeting with candidates, going to vocation fairs, and trying their best to invite young men to join our community.  Even with all their great work, the numbers are not what they were in days gone by and perhaps we will never attain those numbers again.  

The Lord has promised to be with us to the end of time and I firmly believe that promise includes assuring there are enough religious and priests to minister to His people. The Lord does not abandon His people. A Redemptorist friend of mine used to say on missions we gave together that the problem is not God calling people, but the problem is in people hearing and then responding. The invitation is there … we must pray that young people have the courage to respond!

I invite all those reading this message to make a daily commitment to pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Redemptorist way of life. If I can, I beg you to remember this intention in your daily prayers – that as God calls people, more may hear and then respond.  Besides praying, perhaps you know someone who you feel has a religious vocation. If so, perhaps be so bold as to encourage them. We read in John 1:40-42 that Andrew invited his brother Simon Peter to come and follow the Lord. Imagine if Andrew lacked the courage to invite his brother, where would the Church be today? All of us are called to encourage vocations, not just priests, brothers, and vocation directors. All of us are called to be like Andrew.

We pray: “Provident God, you spoke your dream of plentiful redemption in Jesus Christ.  Your Spirit ignited the heart of St. Alphonsus, inspiring him to found a family in the Church dedicated to proclaiming the good news of plentiful redemption to the most abandoned. Raise up among us strong women and men of faith, afire with love for you and zeal for the mission of proclaiming your word among those who do not know you, or who need to hear your word proclaimed anew. Guide men to respond with generosity as vowed Redemptorist priests and brothers, and women and men to serve in joy and hope as partners in the Redemptorist mission. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Word, who is our Life.  Amen.