YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED

TOGETHER IN HIS NAME - June 27, 2003

By Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza

Copied from the Galveston-Houston Diocesan Website
http://www.diocese-gal-hou.org/bishop1mess-060203.asp

This past May the Diocese was blessed with the ordination of five priests. We thank God for these new priests and we pray that their priestly ministry will be a means of many graces to those whom they serve. At their ordination I assured them that they would have deep joy and satisfaction in knowing they are servants of the gospel and ministers of the sacraments which bring the saving graces of Jesus Christ to those who believe in Him as Lord and Redeemer.

 The rejoicing over five priests is somewhat tempered in knowing that we need many more priests to serve this large and ever- growing Diocese. These five priests replace those who have retired or died. They do not allow us to increase the number of priests in parishes which are very large and need more priestly help. Nor do they allow us to establish new parishes. This month two parishes which were staffed by religious priests have been returned to the pastoral care of the Diocese. We were fortunate that a religious community was able to assume the responsibility for one of these parishes.

 However, next June three more parishes staffed by religious priests will be returned to the Diocese. This puts a great strain on our personnel, especially because next May we have only two men scheduled for ordination to the priesthood. The situation is critical and it appears it will not get better any time soon. We have been very blessed to have at least one priest in every parish. It may be necessary that parishes with three priests will have only two priests and parishes with two priests will be staffed with only one priest.

 We know the reality of Jesus' words: "The harvest is great but the labors are few." But he added the plea: "So ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (Mt. 9, 37-38). Can there be any doubt that Jesus is urging us to pray for more vocations? There are many reasons put forth for the lack of priestly vocations, but the lack of consistent and earnest prayer surely is one reason which we can identify for the shortage of priest personnel. Everyone in the Church has the responsibility to heed the plea of Jesus to pray for vocations.

 I want to repeat my request that every parish will have a weekly or at least a monthly Holy Hour for the specific purpose of praying for vocations for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. The responsibility for vocation prayers cannot be the concern only of a few but it must be assumed by all in the Diocese. While I urge that a petition for vocations be included in the Prayers of Intercession in each Mass, the fulfillment of Jesus' plea must include more than a brief mention. It has to be uppermost in our thoughts and expressed in prolonged prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I am convinced that our frequent and consistent prayers will merit the grace for those whom God gives the call to a vocation to priesthood or consecrated life to follow the call with generosity and courage.

 The Diocese is blessed to have a large number of permanent deacons. The diaconal service these men offer in many different ministries is a valuable contribution to the life and mission of the Church. Their ministry should not be viewed as a supplement for the priest shortage, because the diaconate stands on its own as a ministry in the Church. In other words, if there were no priest shortage, diaconal ministry would be a great blessing for the Church. Deacons are ordained to preach and teach the word of God, and to be the ordinary minister of baptism and the distribution of Holy Communion, as well as to officiate at weddings and conduct funerals. In particular, they are to be involved in social services. Our deacons are assigned to parishes and to hospital and prison ministries. In these assignments they bring the presence of Christ and His love to those they serve. But as valuable as the deacons are to the life and mission of the Church, their ministry can not replace the essential role of the priest.

 Parishioners have always expected the Bishop to provide priests for their parishes. Thank God, we have been able to assign at least one priest to every parish. I fervently pray that we will always have a priest for each parish. However, if the day comes when this will not be possible, or if we must reduce the number of priests serving your parish, you should question yourself on how seriously you have prayed for vocations and encouraged vocations among your family and friends.

 Jesus was not speaking lightly when He asked us to pray for more laborers for the harvest. Unfortunately, I think we have not taken His words to heart.  /