Bishop Carl F. Mengeling

Vocations Congress

On Saturday, January 12, our Diocesan Department of Formation, chaired by Father Matthew Fedewa will host an extraordinary gathering of some 200 persons at our Catholic Central High School in Lansing. A similar congress is occurring in every diocese of Canada and the United States to prepare for the Third Continental Congress on Vocations to Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life.

Pope John Paul II asked the Canadian and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to host this conference. The Congress will convene in Montreal, Canada, April 18-21, 2002.

The First Continental Congress for South America was in Brazil in 1994. The Second for Europe was in Rome in 1997. Both were limited to 250 delegates. The Third for North America will engage 1200 delegates from Canada and the U.S.A. They include cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons; major superiors, sisters, and brothers; members of secular institutes and societies of apostolic life; diocesan and religious vocation directors, seminary and religious formators; seminarians and novices; campus and youth ministers; teachers and students; young adults and their parents; and members of lay associations - a representative mix of Catholics who foster, support, and welcome Church vocations throughout North America. Guests from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Rome will also be present.

The purposes of this Third Congress look forward into the third millennium:

• to celebrate vocations as a gift to the Church;
• to foster a culture of vocations for the Church in North America; and
• to create a pastoral plan for heightening awareness of vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life throughout Canada and the United States.

The North American Congress at Montreal and the diocesan congresses that precede it and feed into it are energized by four faith-filled assumptions. All are positive, optimistic and hopeful.

PREEMINENT among the assumptions is that God is still calling, and men and women throughout North America are responding, "Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will." That the Lord calls workers to his vineyard and that workers respond affirmatively, even enthusiastically, can be seen in recent vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life. But the shortage of Church vocations remains evident in the places and spaces waiting for candidates to the priesthood and to consecrated life. Veritably no diocese and no religious community and no secular institute in North America has more candidates than can be comfortably accommodated or hospitably welcomed.

A second assumption is that the inviting, discerning, and welcoming of those who hear the call of God and wish to respond with generosity are the responsibility of all the people of God and not solely the responsibility of those who have already responded to God's call in this way. The promotion of vocations for priests, deacons, religious, and consecrated lay people is part of the obligation to Christ that involves every member of the Catholic Church in North America.

A third assumption is that those who have accepted the call to the ordained ministry and to consecrated life serve all the people of God by their example, by their service, and by their prayer. Their witness testifies to the Christ to whom they have dedicated their lives and invites others to follow their example of total commitment.

The last assumption is that the thousands of people directly involved in vocation work do so in faith and in doing this work they serve God well. Identifying, nurturing, and confirming vocations require remarkably prayerful and active people who can use gentle tact with candidates and potential candidates, who can fulfill their administrative responsibilities with vision and efficiency, and who can work in a collaborative spirit.

The theme of the Congress, "Vocaci?n: Don de Dieu, Given for God's People," combines the three major languages of North America: Spanish, French, and English. The theme celebrates vocation as a gift of God, "Don de Dieu," for the Church.

The logo is a sower, recalling the parable of the sower of the Word of God in the Gospel (Matthew 12:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 14-20; Luke 8:4-8; 11-15). It recalls the words of St. Paul: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth" (1 Cor.3:6). "The one who plants and the one who waters are equal...for we are God's co-workers; you are God's field" (1 Cor.3:8-9). The green of the logo is a sign of new growth, hope in the harvest to come. God is the first sower, and Catholics in all states of life are, by their baptismal call, God's messengers planting in hope the seeds of God's word.

In anticipation of the Montreal Congress in April, diocesan congresses are happening throughout North America. Our congress on January 12 will reflect on specific questions on vocations and present and future vocation initiatives. Their insights will inform the North American Congress itself. Participants will receive this letter:

"Welcome to the Diocesan/Regional Congress that is being held in preparation for the Third Continental Congress on Vocations to the Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life in North America.

For the next two hours the focus is on vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life. During this time you will pray, reflect, and respond to questions that will inform the important work of the Continental Congress in Montreal on April 18-21, 2002.

The purpose of this gathering is to exchange thoughts and feelings about ordained ministry and consecrated life which will be collated with all the information received from other Diocesan/Regional Congresses throughout Canada and the United States of America. Your insights are important to us since they will help the delegates in Montreal create a pastoral plan for promoting vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life in North America."

I fervently encourage everyone to keep in your prayers our Diocesan Congress on Vocations - January 12, 2002 and the North American Congress in April at Montreal. The Holy See has approved this prayer:

PRAYER FOR THE THIRD CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

Loving God, source of life and goodness, we rejoice in the gift of your Son, who dwells constantly in our midst, revealing to us the splendor of your love. We pray that you will call to your service faithful followers of Jesus, who will offer themselves to the ordained ministry and the consecrated life. Imbued with your love and mercy, may they offer their lives generously to the Church as living witnesses of your love for all people.

Lord Jesus Christ, Master of the Harvest, the true light come into the world, grant a fruitful outcome to this Congress in a pastoral plan to increase workers for your harvest. We ask for grace to preach the Gospel and live the Gospel that brings hope of eternal life to every human being.

Holy Spirit, you open the heart and the mind to the divine call; you make effective every impetus toward good, toward truth, toward charity. Bless this Congress, and inspire the faithful of North America with zeal and generosity to encourage and to support those whom you call to the ordained ministry and consecrated life, especially those who are friends or family members.

O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, help those whom the Master invites to the service of the Gospel to echo your own trusting "yes" that the work of evangelization may inspire every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God.

Editors Note: The Congress of Vocations is for all ages and wil be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, at Lansing Catholic Central H.S., 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be available. Visit the website vocations2002.org for more info.