St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church - Vocations Corner

Stamps for Seminarians - 2018 Annual Collection

8/17/2018

STAMPS FOR SEMINARIANS:

Following each Mass this weekend the Vocations Ministry of St. Joan of Arc will again partner with the Support Our Seminarian (SOS) Project of Corpus Christi Parish to collect books of postage stamps for our Harrisburg Seminarians. This event supports the SOS project which provides small, practical items monthly during the school year to all seminarians of our diocese. Information about how you can sponsor a seminarian through the SOS project is available.

Stamps for Seminarians: August 2018 Collection

8/12/2018

STAMPS FOR SEMINIARIANS:

The SJA Vocations Ministry will partner again this year with the “Support Our Seminarian (SOS) Project” of Corpus Christi parish to collect books of postage stamps for our Harrisburg Seminarians after all Masses next weekend, August 18 & 19. This event supports the SOS project which provides small, practical items monthly during the school year to all seminarians of our diocese. Information about how you can sponsor a seminarian through the SOS project will be available at the collection.

Pilgrim Cross Renamed "Vocations Cross"

7/22/2018

Starting Monday July 23, the SJA Pilgrim Cross will be renamed “Vocations Cross” and fall under the Vocations Ministry. Although this program has been at St. Joan of Arc for almost 20 years, you may not be familiar with it.

The Vocations Ministry invites families and individuals to take the Vocations Cross and prayer book home for one week to pray for religious vocations. Please call the parish office or visit the website to sign up. The schedule for the Vocations Cross will continue to be posted online and in the weekly bulletin.

Fiat Days - Summer 2018

6/21/2018

What is God’s plan for your life? All Catholic young women ages 15 – 25 are invited to our Fiat Days vocation discernment retreat. It’s a great opportunity to know Jesus more deeply and help you to discern your vocation in life while having a lot of fun with other Catholic young women. Fiat Days will be held July 1 – 3, 2018 at Mount St. Mary’s University. There is a $50 registration fee, all other expenses funded by the Diocese of Harrisburg. Registration forms can be found at www.hbgdiocese.org. You may also contact the Office of Vocations at (717) 657-4804, ext. 282 or email vocations@hbgdiocese.org with questions or for a registration packet.

Here is a video of the variety of activities at a fiat Days event. Although this video is from the Diocese of Arlington, it was held at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emittsburg, MD where the Harrisburg Diocese holds our Fiat Days:

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6XIj7_EhUM

Quo Vadis Days - Summer 2018

6/10/2018

Attention all Catholic young men ages 15-25. Our Lord Jesus Christ has a great plan and mission for you! You are invited to attend the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Annual Quo Vadis Days vocation discernment retreat to spend time with other young men your age as you listen to the Lord’s call in your life while having fun. Activities include – Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, sports, games, great food, talks and more.

Quo Vadis Days will be held from June 24-27, 2018 at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. There is a registration fee of $50; all other expenses are funded by the Diocese of Harrisburg. Registration forms can be found on their website at www.hbgdiocese.org. You may also contact the Office of Vocations at (717) 657-4804, ext. 282 or email: vocations@hbgdiocese.org for a registration packet or if you have questions. Registration deadline is June 17, 2018.

The Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood

5/31/2018

The Rite of Ordination occurs within the context of Holy Mass. The candidates promise to perform the duties of the Priesthood and to respect and obey their bishop. Then the candidates lie prostrate, while the faithful kneel and pray for the help of the saints singing the Litany of the Saints.

The essential part of the rite is when the bishop silently lays his hands upon each candidate offering the consecratory prayer. The newly ordained is vested with the stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anoints his hands with chrism before presenting him with the chalice and paten which he will use when presiding at the Eucharist. Following this, the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward and given to the new priests. All priests present, concelebrate the Eucharist with the newly ordained taking the place of honor at the right of the bishop. (EWTN)

The rite of Ordination to Priesthood has a great deal of symbolism, tradition and ritual. Here are two videos about what happens during a Priest Ordination:

What happens at an Ordination to the Roman Catholic Priesthood: Vocation director explains the ceremony

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv2AvMT46kg

Busted Halo: Sacraments 101 - Holy Orders

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q904xIwxnSc

First Blessing Of A Newly Ordained Priest

5/24/2018

A special grace may be gained from receiving a “first blessing” of a newly ordained priest. First blessings are customarily given when first Masses are celebrated, but they may be given up to a full year after ordination. Father Matthew Morelli will be giving first blessings at the reception after his first mass on June 2. After receiving the blessing, the faithful may kiss the palms of the newly ordained priest in recognition of the sacred character of his priesthood and of the hands that now hold the Eucharist and confer the sacraments.

The rite of Ordination to Priesthood has a great deal of symbolism, tradition and ritual. Watch the videos below to learn more.

Here are 2 videos about what happens during a Priest Ordination:

What happens at an Ordination to the Roman Catholic Priesthood: Vocation director explains the ceremony:

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv2AvMT46kg

Busted Halo: Sacraments 101: Holy Orders

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q904xIwxnSc

What is the difference between a diocesan priest & a religious order priest?

5/11/2018

At St. Joan of Arc, we are blessed to have both diocesan priests and priests who belong to a religious order. What is the difference?

Diocesan priests are ordained for a particular diocese and serve ordinarily in parishes. This is their main work, although some are engaged in other ministries as well. They take the vows of obedience to the bishop and to remain celibate. They are expected to live simply, but do not take a vow of poverty which allows them to own property. At their ordination as deacons, they incardinate (affiliate) with a particular diocese or archdiocese. At this time they make a promise to obey their bishop and, in the Western Church, to remain celibate.

Religious Order priests are not necessarily more spiritual than diocesan priests. The word refers in this case to the form of life these priests live. All men and women who make public vows in a religious order are called religious. It means that by their vows of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience, their lives are oriented in a special way to the virtue of religion so that all they do becomes a continual act of the worship of God.

This is true of all religious, sisters and brothers as well as priests. Ordinarily they live and pray in community. Many of them wear a religious habit. Often they are engaged in a specialized form of ministry.

*Source: Catholic Answers

Additional Resources:

Video: The difference between diocesan priests and priests in a religious order:

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVZNLbazoc0

Here is a blog post on “Seminarian Parents” from a father whose son is discerning a vocation with the Paulist Fathers.

Blog Post Link: Seminarian Parents - “What is an Order Priest?”

How Long Does It Take To Become A Priest?

5/4/2018

How Long Does It Take To Become A Priest?

It can take between 6 – 8 years of education for a BA in Philosophy or 2 years of Philosophy courses with any previous bachelor’s degree. Then Seminarians earn a Masters of Divinity degree studying Theology for 3 years plus 1 year as a transitional deacon before ordination.

Why Does It Take So Long?

Formation for priesthood consists of 4 pillars: Intellectual, Spiritual, Pastoral and Human. The Master’s degree provides the intellectual formation, but the road to priesthood requires the development of maturity, knowledge and skills in the other pillars. Priestly formation is a highly structured program of development of the entire person. The bar is set high for our future priests which is no less than what the people of God deserve.

Mundelein Seminary in Chicago has posted a video on the academic steps to become a priest: from College Seminary or Pre-Theology to Major Seminary to Transitional Diaconate to Ordination. This is a very clear explanation of the process.

YouTube Link: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=r_J4OgKMiw4

Here is a link to a blog post on “Seminarian Parents” by a parent of a seminarian reflecting on the length of seminary education and formation.

Link: Seminarian Parents - How Long does it take to become a priest? Part 1

What Is A Vocation?

4/27/2018

What is a Vocation?

God creates every person for a specific vocation which will provide them with the greatest happiness in life and a path to reach heaven. Their gifts and abilities are to be developed for use in this vocation.
“Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.” (CCC) To discern your vocation, an individual must discern how has God called them to love. Most commonly, men and women live out their vocation to love in the sacrament of marriage within family life. Others are created to love in a special way in the vocation of priesthood, religious life or single life.

What’s My Vocation? Or Everyone Has 3 Vocations:

“What should I do with my life?” It’s a question on many hearts, maybe even our own. In this video, Father Mike Schmitz gives some direction that can lead to an answer for ourselves or someone we know. He shares how a vocation is more than just figuring out whether we’re called to married life or religious life, and it’s about more than just finding out what we like to do. As he breaks down three different types of vocation we all have, he draws a practical path we can follow to pursue holiness.

Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJz9PbakIzY

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church
359 West Areba Ave.
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: 717.533.7168 Fax: 717.520.0526
Email: office@stjoanhershey.org

St. Joan of Arc School
329 West Areba Ave.
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: 717.533.2854
Website: school.stjoanhershey.org

© St. Joan of Arc 2018. All Rights Reserved. St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is a 501 (c) 3 (b) organization.