St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners:

Welcome to the last full week of May!  How did this month pass by so quickly?  Our Easter season is winding down soon.  We still have time to respond ever more faithfully to the Lord of the Resurrection.  Let us use these remaining days in the best way possible so that our relationship to Jesus can be the deepest and most endearing possible.

What a glorious weekend for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.  Why?  Because there will be two new priests to serve in God’ Name.  On Saturday, May 24^th, Bishop Paprocki will enact one of the greatest privileges a bishop has—to ordain men to the priesthood.  With many priests from our diocese in attendance, the two now deacons will feel the unity of the priesthood as they move into a new chapter in their lives. 

The two deacons to be ordained priests are:  Rev. Mr. Ryan Kehoe and Rev. Mr. Charlie Delano.  They will pledge obedience to the Bishop and his successors.  They will have promised to live in a celibate state.  They will be charged to preside at Eucharist in a holy way. 

The great thing about this Ordination ceremony is that we have two more priests to minister in our diocese.  But, there is a “sad” aspect, also.  Why aren’t there MORE young men to be ordained?  Why aren’t the numbers increasing to 10, 15, or 20 each year?  Our diocese, and the Church as a whole, are always in need of priests to minister in God’s Name.  More priests would ensure more sacraments being celebrated.  More priests would be able to counsel, visit, teach.  More priests would be able to minister in our jails, our schools, our hospitals.  

Let us all pray for more vocations to the priesthood.  Let us “storm heaven” with pleas to the Lord to have more young men hear and answer His call to say “Yes, Lord, I will be your priest.”  Let us do all we can so that the Eucharist and other sacraments are able to be celebrated because a priest is there to administer them.

What if there was no priest to anoint us before surgery?  Or no priest to preside at Mass?  Or no priest to witness a marriage?  Or no priest to absolve us of our sins?  Or no priest to baptize? 

May we pray for Fr. Kehoe and Fr. Delano.  May they live holy and priestly lives.  May St. John Vianney, the patron saint of all priests, intercede on their behalf.

Your “42 year old” Pastor,

Father Joe