October 2018 Why we need to encourage vocations by Fr. Joe Moriarty Rector Without vocations, we won’t have priests. Without priests, we won’t have the Eucharist. Without the Eucharist, we won’t have the means of salvation to nourish us onto eternal life. When we speak of supporting voca- tions, it’s not just the work of priests or sis- ters. It’s the work of all the baptized. If the member- ship, the baptized, doesn’t understand that it’s their 1) Pray for vocations, and in this time of responsibility to encourage vocations, we won’t have unrest in our Church, be sure to give priests to minister the sacraments, particularly the thanks for the holy men and women sacrament of the Eucharist. Without priests, we who have chosen a religious life in won’t have the Eucharist. Without the Eucharist, we dedication to our Church; won’t have salvation mediated to us in the person of 2) Talk to your pastor about how your Jesus Christ. It’s really very simple. We are all re- parish can support vocations—start a sponsible for encouraging vocations. vocations committee, or if you already While there are many ways to encourage voca- have one, consider joining. Invite your tions, in the context of Bishop Simon Bruté College committee to tour Bruté Seminary or call Seminary, I would suggest the following: me to explore how your group can sup- Continued on page 10 Vocations: continued from page 1 port our efforts. For example, parish groups fellow parishioners, siblings, teachers, etc. Anyone can have offered to make dinner for our seminari- encourage a vocation. How can you encourage a young ans, which is a wonderful way to get to know man to consider a vocation today? and spend time with them. To view the video: https://bit.ly/2QLGYMs 1) Financially support the seminary through a donation to our Annual Fund, Capital Fund or According to the 2018 CARA Report Endowment Fund. Annual Fund contributions (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) help our operating costs, as well as funding • Nearly 9 in 10 responding ordinands reported educational enhancements such as the annual being encouraged to consider the priesthood by seminarian trip to the Right to Life March in someone in their life (most frequently, the parish Washington, D.C., the annual retreat for col- priest, friend, or another parishioner). Responding lege seminarians and formation nights that ordinands indicate that, on average, 4 individuals take place on a weekly basis. Capital Fund gifts encouraged their vocation. help us maintain and enhance the beautiful and historic facility in which we occupy. En- • More than 7 in 10 responding ordinands participat- dowment donations help us plan for the fu- ed in Eucharistic Adoration on a regular basis ture. before entering the seminary. The same proportion An investment in vocations is truly an investment of responding ordinands prayed the rosary, half in every parish, as well as the universal Church. When attended prayer group/Bible study, two in five you encourage vocations, you help grow our Church went to high school retreats, 1 in 3 responding and ensure its future vitality. ordinands attended Lectio Divina , and a quarter Recently, we created a new promotional video for attended college retreats. the seminary, and in it we focused on the theme of • In regard to participation in parish ministries promoting vocations. At the conclusion of the video, before entering the seminary, nearly 3/4 of quite a few of our seminarians relay who most inspired responding ordinands served as altar servers them to pursue their vocation. While most would as- before entering the seminary. Nearly 3 in 5 served sume that seminarians are most inspired by their pas- as lectors. Around half served as Extraordinary tor or another priest, It is quite interesting to note that Ministers of Holy Communion. 1 in 3 served as their answers are quite varied. The point is that they catechists, in campus ministry or youth ministry, were inspired by people all around them—parents, or as confirmation sponsors/godfathers. In Memoriam: 1942-2018 Our 2018-19 school year started on a sad note with the passing of Fr. Tom Widner, S.J., Bruté director of Spiritual Formation, dear friend and mentor. Fr. Tom passed away on August 13 at the age of 76 . Fr. Tom arrived at Brute in 2010 after a lengthy life of parish service and distinguished career of journalistic contributions. He taught at Latin High School and served in various capacities at Our Lady of Greenwood, St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Susanna, St. John the Evangelist, St. Barnabas and Holy Trinity parishes. Most notably, he served as a writer and editor for America Maga- zine (a worldwide Jesuit publication), editor-in-chief of The New World (Archdiocese of Chicago newspaper), editor-in-chief of The Criterion (Archdiocese of Indianapolis newspaper), and Secretary for Communications at the USA Jesuit Conference in Washington, D.C. 2 No doubt the men of Bruté greatly benefited from his worldly perspective and knowledge. We will forever be enriched by his presence among us. BRUTÉ POLICY BOARD Seminarian reflects on the affect of priest Rev. Msgr. William Stumpf abuse scandal, hope for the Church’s future Vicar General Rev. Msgr. Paul Koetter, VF Secondly, I find myself reflecting on the Pastor, Holy Spirit Parish words that Christ directed to the twelve Rev. Eric Augenstein disciples in John 6, “Do you also want to Director of Vocations leave?” This question continues to repeat Rev. Msgr. Mark in my head. Fr. Mike Schmitz, a priest Svarczkopf from Minnesota, has argued that this is Pastor, Our Lady of the Greenwood not a time to leave the Church, but a time Rev. Joseph Moriarty to lead the Church. It is a time to repent Rector and wake up to the call for greatness in BRUTÉ ADVISORY BOARD our lives. We are in a great battle, and often, we encounter a Judas, but we must Dan Schipp not forget the eleven others were willing President by Nick Sellars to lay down their lives. We must hate the John Duffy Vice President Junior seminarian evil that has been done and do all we can to heal and purify it. Amidst some of the dark- Carl McClelland A few months ago, I wrote an article on an Secretary amazing experience I had in Guatemala encoun- est times in human history, great saints have Art Berkemeier tering about two hundred children in an or- come forth to combat the darkness with the Ed Charbonneau phanage. I spoke of their simplicity and childlike light of truth and love. Sr. Jean Marie spirit, and through them, I learned so much This love is a love that a shepherd is sup- Cleveland, OSF about the Father’s love. Unfortunately, my joy- posed to have when protecting his flock. Tom Hirschauer ful thoughts have been turned to great sadness This image is one of the reasons I am Mary Horn Jerry Jones as I continue to reflect on the recent scandals attracted to priesthood, and I am hurt when I see it used for evil. It has challenged me to Kevin O’Brien within the Church that affect so many of God’s Joseph Rivelli examine my own sinfulness and what holds children. I am deeply hurt and angry to know Anne Wilmes that priests, men that are supposed to be fa- me back from living out my vocation with an thers, have done dark acts. I cannot begin to authentic love for the sheep. Bishop Simon SEMINARY STAFF imagine the excruciating pain that these victims Bruté College Seminary has given me a foun- went through and continue to experience. I dation on which to grow and examine my Very Rev. Joseph Moriarty life. A young man cannot pass through these Rector must say I deeply admire their courage, and my Rev. Justin DuVall, OSB halls without looking at his call to be a man hope is that the truth continues to be revealed. Vice Rector I will continue to pray and fast for them often, after the heart of Christ. That is the kind of Rev. Tom Widner, SJ and I hope that nothing that I say in these com- priest I would desire to be. We need priests Spiritual Formation Director ing paragraphs will undermine the suffering who spend time with Christ daily, who hun- Rev. Andy Syberg they are going through. The number one priori- ger for the Eucharist, and who desire the Seminary Formation Dean Dr. John Cadwallader ty of the Church in relationship to this issue sweet sound of Mary’s “yes.” Priests must strive to be all they can be because medioc- Staff Psychologist should be healing for the victims, and then, a Kim Pohovey focus on forming holy priests. rity has no place in the priesthood and in Director of Mission Advancement I desperately want to make right what has the Church. Sr. Sharon Kuhn, OSB I write this with a heavy heart, but also Administrative Coordinator gone wrong, but what can a seminarian do? Is there any hope for the Catholic Church? I have with hope because we are Resurrection peo- Archdiocesan Support been sitting with these questions for some time, ple. I pray that we all continue to reveal the Jolinda Moore and a few thoughts keep coming up in prayer. truth and hold strong to words like that of Executive Director , Office of First, I continue to reflect on my own father’s Saint John Paul the Great, “Against all the Stewardship and Development struggles with addiction to pain killers, and how forces of death, in spite all the false teach- Brian Burkert ers, Jesus Christ continues to offer humanity Chief Financial Officer through the darkness of that time, my family had to become more transparent.