Deacon Arias is new diocesan vocations director

Intermountain Catholic

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Deacon Arias

SALT LAKE CITY – Deacon Ricardo Arias is the new director of the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. This position was previously held by Father Javier Virgen, who now is pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Magna.

Deacon Arias was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004. He began working for the diocese in 2001, at Mount Calvary Cemetery. After that he transferred to the Vocations Office.

"Monsignor Fitzgerald (then the vicar general), called me and asked me if I was interested in coming to the Pastoral Center and work as a secretary for the vocations office," said Deacon Arias.

At the time Monsignor Colin J. Bircumshaw was in charge of the office, but after a few months the office passed to Father Virgen and Deacon Arias became associate director of the office. Msgr. Bircumshaw is now the diocesan vicar general; Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald has retired.

Last August Deacon Arias was appointed director of the Vocations Office.

"This job is a blessing and I am very happy," he said. "I know there is a challenge but if that’s what God’s wants for me, we are here to serve. I want to put all my efforts into being able to discover all the young people who are called to become priests."

To help support his efforts, the diocese has a vocations committee.

Deacon Arias mentioned that the Catholic community in Utah is growing, and with that growth comes the need for more priests.

"It is important that our families realize this reality … they have to be open to see if their son or daughter has the call to become a priest or a sister," he said. "Sometimes parents say to their kids, ‘Why do you want to become a priest? Look at all the difficulties they have…’ It is really important that they discover what God wants for their children and not discourage them. They have to support them."

This call is a sacred one and there should not be any obstacles, he added. "If the young people feel the call, it is important that they follow it, because if they don’t they might feel that something is missing in their lives."

Vocations are important in the diocese now; "there was a time when we were generously served by numerous sisters and priests, but those days are long gone," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City.

Young people who have received the call are recommended to approach their pastor before contacting Deacon Arias.

"They need to talk to their pastors because they belong to a specific community, then start their spiritual direction and keep on participating in their parish ministries, attend Mass, frequently receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and keep praying personally and in community," Deacon Arias said. "It is God who is calling them and they have to discern that call."

"I believe that all of us Catholics in the Diocese of Salt Lake City need to see ourselves as instruments of God’s call," said Bishop Wester.

"Every day I discover God’s will," said Deacon Arias, suggesting the families pray for vocations whenever they can.