Salt Lake Diocese organizes vocations promoters

Intermountain Catholic

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The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City (right), and Father Javier Virgen, director of the diocesan vocations office, are shown at the vocations promoters gathering on Feb. 4. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — A new program establishes one lay person in each parish, mission and station in the Diocese of Salt Lake City as a vocations promoter, whose job it is to encourage vocations – particularly to the priesthood – in their community.

The program is a way for the laity to have an active role in promoting priesthood, said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City. The vocations promoters will "give witness to the value of priests in the local community," and encourage others to do the same, he said.

A group of about 50 people from parishes throughout the diocese gathered Feb. 4 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Salt Lake City for the first meeting of vocations promoters. Father Javier Virgen and Deacon Ricardo Arias of the diocesan vocations office joined Bishop Wester in presenting information at the meeting.

"We are, at this particular chapter of our diocesan life, at a very critical time," because there aren’t enough priests to fill all the positions in the diocese, Bishop Wester said.

In Utah, Catholic priests often work into their 70s and 80s, unlike in other dioceses, where they retire at a younger age, he added. Also, other dioceses have upwards of 50 seminarians studying for the priesthood, while Salt Lake has less than a dozen.

While the emphasis is on priestly vocations, the vocations promoters also should be aware that people may have other calls, such as to religious life or marriage. However, they should reflect God’s way of invitation, not coercion, Bishop Wester said. "I’m not asking you to do the hard sell, I’m asking you to make a gentle invitation. That invitation is so very important…. The call from Christ to the priesthood hasn’t diminished over the centuries…What has diminished is those who listen to the call and act on it. As vocations promoters you’re entrusted to help people hear the call and act on it."

Probably the best thing Catholics can do to encourage vocations is to communicate how much it means for them to be part of the Catholic Church, and to be filled with enthusiasm for living the celebration of the Mass, Bishop Wester said during his homily at the Mass celebrated for the vocations promoters.

Many of those at the workshop said they are interested in the ministry because they see the need for priests.

"We don’t have enough priests, and our priests are aging and we’re not – in our area anyway – we’re not actively reaching out and informing and educating people as to how important it is that they, within their families, educate and talk about and pray about getting more priests," said Ernestina Folks of San Andres Parish in Payson. "The priests have to come from our families. Where else are they going to come from?"

Likewise, Monica Candia of Saint Jude Mission in Ephraim said she is a vocations promoter because the diocese needs more priests to pass on the faith and to interpret the Bible for the laity. "We need people who are able to do it, who are qualified to do it, to translate it for us and pass on that knowledge," she said.

The workshop offered practical ideas for the ministry, said others who attended. Deacon George Reade of Saint Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City said he liked the practice now in place at Blessed Sacrament Parish in which one family or individual each week volunteers to take home a special crucifix and pray for vocations. "We’re going to incorporate that at St. Ambrose," Deacon Reade said.

Carlos Espejo, who is a vocations promoter at Saint Martin de Pores Parish in Salt Lake City, said Bishop Wester’s presentation encouraged him to continue in the position. The day also gave him several ideas to take back to his parish, including forming a team to help him, and the importance of praying about the matter. "I think that is the very essence," he said.