Forming Men with Jesus
In the Gospels, we are treated to memorable words and actions of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles. The disciples no doubt were amazed, startled, encouraged, attracted and also fearful at times as they journeyed with the One who called them by name. However, what we do not see are the hidden moments in their journey together during Jesus’ three-year public ministry. Part of the charm of the streaming series The Chosen is how the show artistically enters into these hidden moments. There would have been many meals and stories shared around the campfire. Laughter would have been a common sound heard by any passersby.
In the Gospels, we are treated to memorable words and actions of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles. The disciples no doubt were amazed, startled, encouraged, attracted and also fearful at times as they journeyed with the One who called them by name. However, what we do not see are the hidden moments in their journey together during Jesus’ three-year public ministry. Part of the charm of the streaming series The Chosen is how the show artistically enters into these hidden moments. There would have been many meals and stories shared around the campfire. Laughter would have been a common sound heard by any passersby.
These hidden moments were foundational to the Apostles’ sense of identity and mission. They knew they were loved by Jesus. They were formed by him in these hidden moments along with the moments that we are blessed to read about in the Word of God. Jesus invested in them: he gave them his time, attention and energy. The Apostles were led on a journey by Jesus, able to listen to him and to ask him questions, hear his stories and be encouraged by his loving presence.
Many young men are experiencing a crisis of loneliness and isolation, fueled by social media. Some are even turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for virtual friendships. With this crisis of isolation comes a crisis of mission, an uncertainty about the meaning of one’s life. Young men are seeking community, accompaniment and formation.
As part of our efforts to live out Pillar 1 of our Diocesan Plan (Love and Support a Unified Presbyterate on Mission), we are revamping our efforts to promote vocations to the priesthood. We have developed a new website (saginawvocations.org) where you can learn more. A team of priests has been formed, and one of the foundational elements of the plan is the beginning of discernment groups. These groups meet weekly for six weeks with a priest facilitator to learn about the priesthood and to hear him share his experiences. It is very hard to discern what you do not know. These help to bridge that gap.
We have only had a few discernment groups so far, but our hope is that these will be a constitutive element of our vocation efforts moving forward. The few we have run have been incredibly fruitful for the lives of the men. The groups are centered around a program called the Melchizedek Project, using Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s book, Priests for the Third Millennium.
The primary goal is to create a climate where more men can enter seminary and discern the priesthood in a more intentional way and be formed to serve the Church as priests. The secondary goal is to invest in the faith of young men. It is likely that many men who enter these groups will not become seminarians. However, their participation in these groups, being able to speak with priests and be open to God’s call in their life, will only lead to blessing in their lives and blessing to the Church. They would benefit any man who is actively practicing his faith, who loves Jesus and who is sincerely open to God’s will in his life, whatever that might be. I invite any man who is interested in receiving support in discerning his vocation to reach out to me at alaframboise@diosag.org if he would like to participate in one of these groups.
I see these discernment groups being like the campfire conversations that Jesus had with the apostles. There was a hidden but powerful formation that took place in those moments, and I believe the same can happen with these groups. Jesus is renewing his Church through his love! May he kindle the faith of men in our Diocese!
Father Andy Laframboise is pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Reese and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Vassar and director of priestly vocations. He holds a licentiate in Sacred Theology in Marriage and Family Studies from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.
