Bishop Earl Fernandes speaks frequently about creating a culture of vocations in the diocese and providing pathways to discernment. Several opportunities to learn more about religious life were planned during National Vocation Awareness Week that started Nov. 3.
The first event took place on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with the annual Marian Dinner at Columbus St. Andrew Church’s Nugent Hall for young women from eighth grade through college. The annual gathering gave young women the opportunity to learn more from sisters about religious life and the charisms of their various orders. Vespers and dinner were to be followed by talks from Bishop Earl Fernandes and a sister.
A vocations awareness luncheon for young men in junior high and high school is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Pontifical College Josephinum’s Jessing Center. The annual event, sponsored by the Serra Club of North Columbus, includes a talk on vocations by a clergy member.
Also during National Vocation Awareness Week, a Fall Come and See Weekend at the Pontifical College Josephinum for high school- and college-age men is to begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 and run through noon on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Come and See Weekends allow young men to live in the seminary for a weekend to experience prayer life, classes, communal worship and interaction with seminarians, faculty and staff. Presentations on discernment, student life and the college seminary formation program are offered.
A winter Melchizedek Project day is set for Saturday, Dec. 28 at the Pontifical College Josephinum. The Melchizedek Project is a spiritual discernment group for high school and college men considering the priesthood.
Regional Melchizedek Project monthly meetings take place around the diocese during the school year at Columbus St. Patrick and Worthington St. Michael churches for high schoolers, and at Sunbury St. John Neumann, Lancaster St. Bernadette, Newark St. Francis de Sales and Portsmouth St. John Paul II parishes for high school and college students.
A Melchizedek Project college-only group has a meeting set for Sunday, Nov. 24 at the St. Thomas More Newman Center adjacent to Ohio State University. And for post-college and older men, regular Melchizedek sessions are scheduled on the fourth Tuesdays of the month at Columbus Sacred Heart Church.
Meanwhile, each of the diocese’s 10 deaneries includes at least one priest who serves as a regional vocations promoter. Two priests are responsible for ethnic communities.
Additionally, an Andrew Dinner is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the Pontifical College Josephinum. Andrew Dinners allow high school- and college-age men who are open to a religious vocation to gather for food and fellowship and to listen to vocation stories.
The diocese’s various initiatives to attract vocations have paid dividends the past two years with large classes entering seminary formation, said Father Michael Haemmerle, associate director of vocations for the diocese and a parochial vicar at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church.
“And things are looking good for next year,” he said. “We have a number of guys already in the application process and a few more who are looking to get started.”
Father Haemmerle, who was ordained in May, encouraged the faithful to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
“That’s something that everyone needs to be aware of,” he said. “A lot of good things are happening and there’s still more work to be done.”
Father Haemmerle stressed that a religious calling often starts at home and that families should be “willing to encourage discernment and vocations.”
For a schedule of events and more information on vocations in the diocese, visit vocationscolumbus.org.
