Archbishop Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati (and my direct boss!) has issued a statement to be read at all Masses within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati this coming weekend.
I've linked to it over at the Vocation Office Page.
The statement can also be found at the Telegraph's page.
Which also has a response from the new editor.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Vocations Among Us
My latest missive for the Telegraph:
Vocations Among Us
One of the key moments in my own vocation was several years before I even thought about the possibility that I might even be called to the priesthood. But looking back now, without this event, I would have never even considered the possibility. At the time, however, it was just another event that I was honored to be a part of.
My junior year of high school, a son of my home town was ordained to the priesthood for the Congregation of the Holy Cross. As he was my oldest sister's brother-in-law and needed extra servers for his Mass of Thanksgiving, my twin brother and I were volunteered to assist; which we gladly did. I can still see the joy on the face of a newly ordained priest, years of study, prayer and hard work had culminated in this event; and even though I would not have been able to articulate it at the time, this became a key moment for me in looking towards the priesthood.
A year later, as my class was graduating and heading off to college, I learned that someone I knew from the neighboring town was entering seminary. Hmmm..... Men really do still do this. As I made my way through my own first year of college life, I recognized my own priestly calling through the ongoing example of the priests at the Campus Ministry and entered the seminary for my second year of college. I never really looked back since.
These recollections are not merely to fill space, but serve to highlight a very simple, yet vitally important point in the cultivation of a spirit of vocations within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. With both Archbishop Schnurr and Archbishop Pilarczyk (and now including Bishop Binzer in the discussion), we are convinced that there are vocations to the priesthood in our midst, sitting near you every Sunday at Mass, passing you on the street corner, riding the bus home from school. We just need to find them, encourage them, help them to discover this pearl of great price to which they have been called.
With this recognition, throughout the month of January as we went from National Vocation Awareness Week to the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, the Vocation Office has been recognizing the stories of local men and women who have answered the call and are now serving as religious, priests, or still in training to be so. I invite you to visit www.cincinnativocations.org to peruse these stories.
In reading through them, I am struck that there is no common theme besides faithfulness. There is no 'magic pill,' as it were, for families to do which inspired a vocation. There is no simple recipe that will automatically bring your son to be a priest. In these vocation stories, the life-long cradle Catholic is positioned side by side with converts from atheism. Families who were wonderfully supportive are contrasted with a few who nearly disowned their daughter or son for entering the seminary or convent.
Yet, even with the disparate versions of these stories, three common themes present themselves: faithfulness, prayer, and trust. As we move deeper into Ordinary Time and once again enter into the great season of Lent; perhaps these three dimensions are once again being called to the fore in your family as God continues to form us all to be more like His Son. And if God calls one of your sons or daughters to the priesthood or religious life, trust that He truly does know what is best.
Vocations Among Us
One of the key moments in my own vocation was several years before I even thought about the possibility that I might even be called to the priesthood. But looking back now, without this event, I would have never even considered the possibility. At the time, however, it was just another event that I was honored to be a part of.
My junior year of high school, a son of my home town was ordained to the priesthood for the Congregation of the Holy Cross. As he was my oldest sister's brother-in-law and needed extra servers for his Mass of Thanksgiving, my twin brother and I were volunteered to assist; which we gladly did. I can still see the joy on the face of a newly ordained priest, years of study, prayer and hard work had culminated in this event; and even though I would not have been able to articulate it at the time, this became a key moment for me in looking towards the priesthood.
A year later, as my class was graduating and heading off to college, I learned that someone I knew from the neighboring town was entering seminary. Hmmm..... Men really do still do this. As I made my way through my own first year of college life, I recognized my own priestly calling through the ongoing example of the priests at the Campus Ministry and entered the seminary for my second year of college. I never really looked back since.
These recollections are not merely to fill space, but serve to highlight a very simple, yet vitally important point in the cultivation of a spirit of vocations within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. With both Archbishop Schnurr and Archbishop Pilarczyk (and now including Bishop Binzer in the discussion), we are convinced that there are vocations to the priesthood in our midst, sitting near you every Sunday at Mass, passing you on the street corner, riding the bus home from school. We just need to find them, encourage them, help them to discover this pearl of great price to which they have been called.
With this recognition, throughout the month of January as we went from National Vocation Awareness Week to the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, the Vocation Office has been recognizing the stories of local men and women who have answered the call and are now serving as religious, priests, or still in training to be so. I invite you to visit www.cincinnativocations.org to peruse these stories.
In reading through them, I am struck that there is no common theme besides faithfulness. There is no 'magic pill,' as it were, for families to do which inspired a vocation. There is no simple recipe that will automatically bring your son to be a priest. In these vocation stories, the life-long cradle Catholic is positioned side by side with converts from atheism. Families who were wonderfully supportive are contrasted with a few who nearly disowned their daughter or son for entering the seminary or convent.
Yet, even with the disparate versions of these stories, three common themes present themselves: faithfulness, prayer, and trust. As we move deeper into Ordinary Time and once again enter into the great season of Lent; perhaps these three dimensions are once again being called to the fore in your family as God continues to form us all to be more like His Son. And if God calls one of your sons or daughters to the priesthood or religious life, trust that He truly does know what is best.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Vocation Awareness Week Prayer Service
Hey, all you folks up in the Northern fringes of the Archdiocese, have we got the event for you:
National Vocation Awareness Week
An Evening of Worship & Prayer
Thursday - January 12, 2012
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
New Bremen, Ohio
Presiding: Fr. Kyle Schnippel, Vocations Director
& Deacon Greg Bornhorst
Mass at 7 p.m. followed with Prayers
The Church sets aside the week following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord as National Vocation Awareness Week. A vocation to the priesthood and/or consecrated life can only truly be heard and answered by one who has a deep connection with Our Lord and fostered by a strong life of prayer. For more information, visit www.cincinnativocations.org
Sponsored by Serra Club of St. Mary’s/Sidney Deaneries
National Vocation Awareness Week
An Evening of Worship & Prayer
Thursday - January 12, 2012
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
New Bremen, Ohio
Presiding: Fr. Kyle Schnippel, Vocations Director
& Deacon Greg Bornhorst
Mass at 7 p.m. followed with Prayers
The Church sets aside the week following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord as National Vocation Awareness Week. A vocation to the priesthood and/or consecrated life can only truly be heard and answered by one who has a deep connection with Our Lord and fostered by a strong life of prayer. For more information, visit www.cincinnativocations.org
Sponsored by Serra Club of St. Mary’s/Sidney Deaneries
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The New Translation and a Culture of Vocations
My latest for the Catholic Telegraph, which is featuring their annual Vocation Issue this month:
As the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal neared, I was often asked what impact I thought it would have on vocations to the priesthood and religious life. While it seemed that some felt the new, more elevated translation might drive some away from pursuing the priesthood, it is my thought that it will actually do the opposite and draw more young men and women to recognize the possibility of a priestly or religious vocation.
There are several reasons for this possibility. First, over the last two years, we have had such a focus on the importance and centrality of the Eucharistic celebration in our identity as Catholics. Hopefully, this has led all of us to a deeper and more profound love for Christ and His Church. This love is what ultimately creates those initial stirrings of a vocation and provides the strength to overcome those sometimes tedious moments during formation when it all seems too much.
Also, a priest friend recently relayed an encounter he had with a parishioner, who admitted that the new translation was forcing her to listen with a more attentive ear. But she also admitted that this was not a bad thing! Yes, the language is ‘higher,’ more poetic and the syntax can be difficult at times; but these are the exact attributes which engage the mind, the heart, the imagination, the desire to learn and grow deeper into what is being celebrated. As we have now entered into these changes, we (priest and laity alike) can no longer just skate through Mass easily, we have to be much more intentional about the words we are praying. Again, the words will shape the heart which will ultimately, hopefully, engage the heart in the stirring of that desire to know Christ, personally, profoundly.
On a further note, the language of the new translation is one of supplication and pleading; rather than one of the sometime presumptuous found in the now outdated translation. I think this is mostly a result of the change from active to passive voice in the newer translation; but in reading the prayers, in meditating over them, as a priest, I get the sense that I do this with a certain amount of fear and trembling before the God of the Universe. It strikes me that the recognition of a vocation often requires a similar approach. One does not presume to take on the priesthood for oneself, but has been called forth to this life by God Himself; mystery surrounds why I was invited to this and not my brother; for instance. (To be clear, I am not denigrating the outgoing translation which nourished my own priestly vocation, just trying to understand the differences between the two.)
It is this encounter with the Living God is the source of any true vocation: priesthood, consecrated, single or married life. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was quoted as saying that men, in discerning the priesthood, will not give their life to a question mark, but they are willing to give their lives to a mystery.
As we grow more accustomed to this new translation, as we are formed by the words and actions of the Sacred Liturgy, as we meditate and pray over the mysteries being celebrated; let us all experience that awe inspiring mystery of the One True God, that He might lead us all through our pilgrimage of life closer to Himself.
As the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal neared, I was often asked what impact I thought it would have on vocations to the priesthood and religious life. While it seemed that some felt the new, more elevated translation might drive some away from pursuing the priesthood, it is my thought that it will actually do the opposite and draw more young men and women to recognize the possibility of a priestly or religious vocation.
There are several reasons for this possibility. First, over the last two years, we have had such a focus on the importance and centrality of the Eucharistic celebration in our identity as Catholics. Hopefully, this has led all of us to a deeper and more profound love for Christ and His Church. This love is what ultimately creates those initial stirrings of a vocation and provides the strength to overcome those sometimes tedious moments during formation when it all seems too much.
Also, a priest friend recently relayed an encounter he had with a parishioner, who admitted that the new translation was forcing her to listen with a more attentive ear. But she also admitted that this was not a bad thing! Yes, the language is ‘higher,’ more poetic and the syntax can be difficult at times; but these are the exact attributes which engage the mind, the heart, the imagination, the desire to learn and grow deeper into what is being celebrated. As we have now entered into these changes, we (priest and laity alike) can no longer just skate through Mass easily, we have to be much more intentional about the words we are praying. Again, the words will shape the heart which will ultimately, hopefully, engage the heart in the stirring of that desire to know Christ, personally, profoundly.
On a further note, the language of the new translation is one of supplication and pleading; rather than one of the sometime presumptuous found in the now outdated translation. I think this is mostly a result of the change from active to passive voice in the newer translation; but in reading the prayers, in meditating over them, as a priest, I get the sense that I do this with a certain amount of fear and trembling before the God of the Universe. It strikes me that the recognition of a vocation often requires a similar approach. One does not presume to take on the priesthood for oneself, but has been called forth to this life by God Himself; mystery surrounds why I was invited to this and not my brother; for instance. (To be clear, I am not denigrating the outgoing translation which nourished my own priestly vocation, just trying to understand the differences between the two.)
It is this encounter with the Living God is the source of any true vocation: priesthood, consecrated, single or married life. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was quoted as saying that men, in discerning the priesthood, will not give their life to a question mark, but they are willing to give their lives to a mystery.
As we grow more accustomed to this new translation, as we are formed by the words and actions of the Sacred Liturgy, as we meditate and pray over the mysteries being celebrated; let us all experience that awe inspiring mystery of the One True God, that He might lead us all through our pilgrimage of life closer to Himself.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
What, Tom's son?
The reaction when I felt a call to the seminary and priesthood was mostly positive; but one reaction from an Aunt of mine really caught me off guard: 'What, Tom's son?'
In his younger years, dad was a bit of a party animal. I would repeat some of his stories here, but it is a family blog, so well, you know. (Not that anything was illegal, rather more impish; so yes, I come by it honestly.)
I thought of that reaction at Mass this morning as I read the Genealogy of Jesus as found in the Gospel According to St. Matthew:
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
Not exactly the list of characters, if you were going through the Bible, whom you would choose as ancestors of the Son of God. Rahab was a harlot and prostitute. The kings were ruthless murders, cutthroats and thieves; among others!
Yet, these are the human ancestors of Jesus. This is his family heritage. I hope it gives some solace to those families who have a less than perfect record, that even 'Tom's son' can make it to be a decent priest. God works in mysterious ways, as we stand one week outside of Christmas; let Him work in your family, too.
In his younger years, dad was a bit of a party animal. I would repeat some of his stories here, but it is a family blog, so well, you know. (Not that anything was illegal, rather more impish; so yes, I come by it honestly.)
I thought of that reaction at Mass this morning as I read the Genealogy of Jesus as found in the Gospel According to St. Matthew:
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
Not exactly the list of characters, if you were going through the Bible, whom you would choose as ancestors of the Son of God. Rahab was a harlot and prostitute. The kings were ruthless murders, cutthroats and thieves; among others!
Yet, these are the human ancestors of Jesus. This is his family heritage. I hope it gives some solace to those families who have a less than perfect record, that even 'Tom's son' can make it to be a decent priest. God works in mysterious ways, as we stand one week outside of Christmas; let Him work in your family, too.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Fulfill the Ministry
The Vocation Office is glad to announce a new effort to help in the financial support of Vocations to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Run for the Call!
The idea was developed after 'nun runs,' but with a bit of a twist: Priests, seminarians and those interested in supporting seminarians running the Flying Pig Marathon to gather donations and support for our seminarians in need of financial assistance. (and before you ask, I'm giving moral support from the sidelines!)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Immaculate Conception Chapel at Mount St. Mary's of the West, Cincinnati, Ohio
This past Thursday, on the Patronal Feast of Mount St. Mary's Seminary, of the West, Archbishop Schnurr reconsecrated the Immaculate Conception Chapel for the private and devotional use of the seminarians. The sanctuary is pictured above, for more pictures, see here.
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Hidden Sacrifice of the Priesthood
Often when I do presentations on vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the introduction includes the instruction to pray for our priests and religious because they have given up so much in order to respond to their call. While it is true that the life of a priest is a particular form of sacrificial living in giving up the good things of the natural world, there are certainly many blessings that nourish the priest both spiritually and emotionally during the course of his ministry in the Church. I would think, based on seeing so many religious who exhibit that deep seated joy in Christ, that they have a similar experience.
However, there is a sometimes hidden cost of responding to a priestly or religious vocation that becomes quite evident this time of year, but not necessarily for the priest or religious, but for his or her family. Because of our responsibilities and assignments, we often miss family gatherings during the holidays, or when we get there, we are so tired and worn down, all we want to do is sleep; yet nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, parents are all excited to see you and want to hear about what we have been doing.
But especially for members of religious communities, even this is not an option. Often stationed in houses around the globe, families have to make due with a two week ‘home visit’ at different points during the year. In between, hand written letters are often the only means of communication that goes between family and the professed. While the evident joy can temper some of the feelings of loss in the rest of the family, there is still something missing when that son or daughter’s chair remains empty during Christmas Dinner.
On the contrary, there certainly are many blessings that can come to the family of a priest or religious. I know my mother enjoys seeing people she meets make the connection that she is ‘Fr. Schnippel’s mother’ and my father’s favorite pastime is greeting me after Mass with a hearty: ‘Well done, Son!’ (and my sheepish reply: ‘Thanks, Father.’) Plus, family weddings and baptisms take on a special significance when celebrated by your brother or uncle, and it was a particular joy to me to receive my brother’s wedding vows while I was still a deacon.
Despite these great blessings, families of priests and religious can still sometimes feel left out. Perhaps with the upcoming Christmas season, it might make for an excellent awareness to thank those families from among your parishes and friends who have sacrificed in such a way in supporting a son or daughter in their call to the priesthood or religious life.
After all, priestly and religious vocations are not the product solely of one family, but naturally grow forth from a vibrant parish and school life. There is a pride that comes to the whole parish when a son is ordained or a daughter professed; helping a family who greatly loves, yet greatly misses, their child, brother or sister aunt or uncle; is certainly a great way to acknowledge that the fostering of a vocation is too important a task to be left to just one family. It is the responsibility of all.
During this Christmas Season, may Christ richly reward all those who have helped to foster a vocation!
For more on how families and parishes can foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, please visit http://www.cincinnativocations.org/.
However, there is a sometimes hidden cost of responding to a priestly or religious vocation that becomes quite evident this time of year, but not necessarily for the priest or religious, but for his or her family. Because of our responsibilities and assignments, we often miss family gatherings during the holidays, or when we get there, we are so tired and worn down, all we want to do is sleep; yet nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, parents are all excited to see you and want to hear about what we have been doing.
But especially for members of religious communities, even this is not an option. Often stationed in houses around the globe, families have to make due with a two week ‘home visit’ at different points during the year. In between, hand written letters are often the only means of communication that goes between family and the professed. While the evident joy can temper some of the feelings of loss in the rest of the family, there is still something missing when that son or daughter’s chair remains empty during Christmas Dinner.
On the contrary, there certainly are many blessings that can come to the family of a priest or religious. I know my mother enjoys seeing people she meets make the connection that she is ‘Fr. Schnippel’s mother’ and my father’s favorite pastime is greeting me after Mass with a hearty: ‘Well done, Son!’ (and my sheepish reply: ‘Thanks, Father.’) Plus, family weddings and baptisms take on a special significance when celebrated by your brother or uncle, and it was a particular joy to me to receive my brother’s wedding vows while I was still a deacon.
Despite these great blessings, families of priests and religious can still sometimes feel left out. Perhaps with the upcoming Christmas season, it might make for an excellent awareness to thank those families from among your parishes and friends who have sacrificed in such a way in supporting a son or daughter in their call to the priesthood or religious life.
After all, priestly and religious vocations are not the product solely of one family, but naturally grow forth from a vibrant parish and school life. There is a pride that comes to the whole parish when a son is ordained or a daughter professed; helping a family who greatly loves, yet greatly misses, their child, brother or sister aunt or uncle; is certainly a great way to acknowledge that the fostering of a vocation is too important a task to be left to just one family. It is the responsibility of all.
During this Christmas Season, may Christ richly reward all those who have helped to foster a vocation!
For more on how families and parishes can foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, please visit http://www.cincinnativocations.org/.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Collin Raye, A Christmas Musical
December 7, Collin Raye will perfrom a Christmas Musical Event at the 20th Century Theatre in Cincinnati's Oakley Neighborhood, benefiting the Terri Schiavo Foundation. Looks to be a great time.
Tickets and more information can be found here:
http://seecollinraye.com/
Tickets and more information can be found here:
http://seecollinraye.com/
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Miracle of Life, Mathematical Edition
At nearly ten minutes, it is a fairly long clip for a youtube video, but well worth it. He has reconstructed the conception, maturation and birth process simply by looking at the mathematical data currently available, and readily admits that this is way more complicated that we can truly understand.
As my mother just quipped, how can you look at this and not be Pro-Life?
Found through New Advent linking to this page at Live Action.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Fr. Barron on the New Roman Missal
I've used the new translation a few times in private Masses just to prepare for the implementation. Certainly, the new text has a greater poetry than the existing translation. Because of this, however, there are certain parts where you expect words to be in a certain order, but they are reversed. It is going to take a great deal of discipline to focus on the text in such a way to get the words all right, and in the correct order.
That being said, I am greatly looking forward to the implementation, as this new translation feels to be more prayerful, especially with the stronger link to quaesemus... clauses, ie: 'Grant, we pray, that...' There is a much stronger reflection that we approach prayer in fear and trembling, that God is the author of our prayer and He draws us deeper, closer to Himself in prayer; the liturgy is not ours, but Christ's.
As a further note, I am presenting on a few thoughts about the Mass this Thursday at St. Jude's Catholic Church on Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, at 7:30. It would be great to have a nice crowd present.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The World is Usually in Crisis, and today is no exception
I'm a bit late on this, but please read Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh's address from his installation as President/Rector of the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary's of the West, Cincinnati, Ohio.
It really is something else, a great vision of our times and how to move forward.
It really is something else, a great vision of our times and how to move forward.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Vocation Views for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
are now published at the Vocation Office site:
http://www.cincinnativocations.org/vocation-views-year-b/
http://www.cincinnativocations.org/vocation-views-year-b/
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