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Friday, September 12, 2025

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Vocation

Only Jesus

‘Is Jesus Christ enough for me?’

The good news is that, even today, many young people are choosing to live a life of total self-gift through responding to a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life.
Vocations

Local clergy, religious say prayer, conversations aided in discernment

The Catholic Spirit asked the following clergy and consecrated religious to share a part of their discernment process, what brings them joy in their vocation and their advice for others considering a religious vocation.
Local News

Father VanHoose’s vocation netted through national ministry in West St. Paul

Father Chad VanHoose, 34, had every intention of serving only one year with NET Ministries after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University in 2005 with a nursing degree. That lone year turned into seven with the West St. Paul-based ministry.
Local News

Looking for a ‘job that can impact lives,’ Father Theisen drawn to priesthood

He has enjoyed the prayerful atmosphere at the St. Paul Seminary, and has spent many an hour praying in the chapel. Another takeaway has been the fraternity with his nine classmates. As one of the larger ordination classes in recent years, it has produced a rich diversity of personalities and gifts, he noted.
Local News

Father Froehle told God he’d ‘keep moving’ if doors opened

High school conversations with his parish priest about the priesthood, as well as a supportive letter from his grandparents prior to confirmation, had planted seeds about his vocation. But it was in Ireland Hall where he formed strong friendships with students in the Catholic Studies program, along with the nearby seminarians, that led him to further discern his call.
Local News

Father Evans expects varied experiences to benefit priesthood

During his eventful journey to the priesthood, Father Bryce Evans spent two years as a Jesuit novice in St. Paul, walked 350-miles across Wisconsin on a pilgrimage, led teens at a Door County, Wisconsin, wilderness camp and began priestly studies at an Illinois seminary before returning to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, where he started.
Local News

Former Lutheran finds answer to life’s ‘So what?’ in Catholicism

He grew up Lutheran in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, not involved in church life, but watching its televised service every Sunday. Then, a car accident left his mother, Janette, in a coma for two weeks followed by extensive rehabilitation, so she could relearn how to walk and talk. It was an adjustment for the family, Father Quail said.
Local News

Formation in Rome a rich experience for Father Wratkowski

Father Wratkowski appreciates what his classmates have taught him — to rejoice in the diversity of gifts in the Church. He described that diversity in his fellow seminarians in Rome — one man used to be a tap dancer on Broadway and another a rocket scientist in the Air Force.
Local News

Global document with local ties extols farming vocation

The document “is really retrieving the idea of vocation for all those involved in agriculture,” said Jim Ennis, executive director of St. Paul-based Catholic Rural Life. “There’s a special, unique role that farmers, ranchers and all those involved in agricultural production and bringing food to our tables play in how important it is, and the Church affirms it.”
Only Jesus

Support those discerning their vocation by fully living your own

Dioceses throughout the United States are marking National Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 6-12, an occasion for promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life, and praying for those who are discerning their vocation in life. I feel blessed to be in an archdiocese that takes seriously the obligation to support our sisters and brothers in their discernment of God’s call. I have recently had the opportunity to host a Myriam dinner for young women contemplating a vocation to consecrated life and an Andrew supper for their male counterparts, and was impressed on both occasions by the conviction of our young people that God has a plan for each one of us. Their openness to the possibility that God could be calling them to consecrated life, the diaconate or the priesthood is inspiring.
Vocations

Studies track effect of family encouragement on vocation pursuit

There is no single answer to what spurs a young man or woman to consider a vocation to religious life or the priesthood.
Only Jesus

Living one’s vocation is an ongoing encounter with God

It shouldn’t be surprising that vocations are on my mind. In addition to the countless young men and women who have entered into Christian marriage on recent weekends, the last two months have seen the ordination of new transitional deacons and priests for the archdiocese, some ordinations for our religious communities of men, and the final profession of two young women as Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus in the Diocese of New Ulm.
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