December 5, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Advent is a deeply Eucharistic season, a season filled with longing and hope for the coming of the Promised Savior. Our Holy Father John Paul II has blessed us with this Year of the Eucharist, during which we draw closer to this mystery of our Emmanuel truly dwelling among us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. In the midst of our Advent journey as we prepare “the way of the Lord” in new and deeper ways, I ask that you prayerfully consider how others, namely priests, brothers and sisters have assisted in preparing the way of the Lord in your own lives. My brother bishops and I have designated January 9-14, 2005 as National Vocations Awareness Week. In preparation for this week in which the Church focuses on priestly and religious vocations, I would like once again to bring to your attention a vocation program, Called By Name. Called By Name is a simple program that seeks to identify young men and women from our diocese who might be called to serve our Lord and His Church as a priest, brother or sister.

Through receiving the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion, through adoring Him and offering ourselves in Him to the Heavenly Father, we grow in profound gratitude for His merciful love. This gratitude extends throughout the body of Christ, yet ultimately focuses on the hands and hearts of those He has called and continues to call to priestly ministry and consecrated religious life. I am convinced that Jesus continues to call generous young men and women from our own midst to build up the Kingdom of God through a vocation to priesthood or consecrated life.

As I reflect on my own spiritual journey, it is clear to me that the Lord made use of others to help me hear my calling. The example of the sisters, brothers and parish priests had a profound and positive impact on my life. My parents had great respect for them. The priests and their service to the people were cherished in our home. Fortunately, there were significant persons who encouraged me to consider God’s call, no matter where it might lead. I am eternally grateful for their encouragement, prayers and support.

I hope that you will take the initiative to fill out the form at the bottom of this letter, inviting a young man or woman to consider the call to priesthood or consecrated life. I ask that in the weeks ahead, you look around your community: the parish, your home, neighborhood, workplace, and your social contacts. Continue to ask yourself: “Whom might I encourage?” Pray and reflect on individuals who, in your opinion, have the qualities, gifts and talents needed to serve the Church as a future priest, brother or sister. If you are able to identify such a person, please mail this form to Father Brian G. Bashista, Director of the Office of Vocations, no later than December 20, 2004.

Those recommended who are college age and older will be sent a letter inviting them to attend an informal discernment meeting during National Vocations Awareness Week and to one of our yearly vocation discernment retreats in late February. Those recommended who are still in high school will be sent a letter inviting them to attend a meeting of our Vianney Vocations Club for high school boys or our Faustina Vocations Club for high school girls.

The Church leaders of the third millennium are among your family, friends and acquaintances. They might even be sitting next to you at school or work, or even around your family dinner table. By inviting them to consider a vocation to priesthood or consecrated life, you are inviting them to be sensitive to the possibility that God might be calling them to serve Him by serving others as a priest, brother or sister. The Called By Name program provides the encouragement and the setting for a positive response to God’s invitation: “Come, follow Me.”

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington

Click on Form for a Printable Copy

Mail by December 20, 2004 to:
Reverend Brian Bashista, Director of Vocations
Diocese of Arlington
200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22203

Or

Call: (703) 841-2514

Or

E-mail: The Diocesan Vocations Office