Catholics support seminarians with cards and letters

After Rev. Thomas Konopka of the diocesan Vocations Team sent the seminarians' addresses to parishes around the Diocese, many Catholics responded by letting the future priests know they're remembered in thoughts and prayers.

The shower of letters and cards has been cause for gratitude from the seminarians.

Affirmed

Tony Childs, who will be ordained to the priesthood this year and is currently at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Maryland, said that many of the 16 cards he's received were the result of an Advent reconciliation service at St. Mary's parish in Oneonta. One letter-writer told him that parishioners had been asked to send the cards as penance.

Cards supporting vocations have also arrived from parishes in East Greenbush, Greenfield Center, Loudonville, Schenectady, Rotterdam, Rotterdam Junction, Watervliet, Cooperstown, Walton, Granville and Whitehall -- to name a few.

Prayers pledged

Seminarian John O'Kane, also at Sacred Heart School of Theology, has received about 25 cards. "Everyone said I'm in their prayers and wishes me the best in my studies," he said. "Many also say they are happy I am studying for the priesthood."

Questions are part of many letters. "Most of the children ask if I'm scared," Mr. Butler said. "Others ask where I went to college and why do I want to become a priest." One child wrote, "I hope you to be a good priest to keep God in your prayers, too."

A card Mr. Childs received asked whether he could serve at the writer's parish someday; another wanted to know how long it takes to become a priest. The seminarians all said they have responded to some of the letters and hope to write back to more.

Vocations

Mr. Childs told The Evangelist: "Most of the people in the parishes do not acutely realize the severity of the priest shortage in Albany [and] are grossly unattuned to the critical need to encourage qualified men to consider seriously this awesome and wonderful vocation."

With more than 180 parishes in the Diocese, plus Catholic schools and other ministries served by chaplains, he added, "it truly befuddles me that we don't have a plethora of vocations. You would think that there would at least be some inquiries from such a potentially ripe goldmine of possible candidates!"

God's call

"The situation is very grave," he stated. "I earnestly pray that this sort of program of letter/card writing will be a meaningful way to help parishes raise greater awareness of the need for more and new priestly vocations for our terrific Diocese."

Already, the seminarians affirmed, the cards and letters are having the desired effect. "They remind me, when I am scared and unsure, that I do have talent, gifts and support," said Mr. Butler.

Mr. O'Kane added: "I am thankful and very pleased with the correspondence, and all of you are in my prayers and thoughts."

(Write to Mr. Butler and Mr. O'Kane at Sacred Heart School of Theology, 7335 S. Hwy. 100, Box 61, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0429. Write to Mr. Childs at St. Mary's Seminary, 5400 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21210-1994. For other addresses, contact the Vocations Office at 453-6670.)

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