This weekend, on July 1, we celebrate the feast day of St. Junipero Serra. Though he lived in 1700s, he was not canonized until in 2015, by Pope Francis. His canonization caused controversy among some non-Catholics, who associate the saint with injustices of the Spanish colonial period in California, but this ignores the fact that St. Junipero himself advocated passionately for the rights and dignity of the indigenous people he sought to evangelize and serve.
His priestly zeal for souls and his willingness to discern and do God’s will, to preach, and to sacrifice for his flock led to him being named patron saint of vocations. In our own community, the Serra Club is an organization of lay Catholics of all ages and backgrounds who dedicated themselves to praying for, promoting, and fostering vocations to priesthood and religious life.
We believe in a good and loving God who provides for His Church, so of course He continues to call men and women to priesthood, deaconate, and religious life. As a parish, we support His call most noticeably by the Prayer for Vocations we offer together before each and every Mass, and by a long history of vocations stretching back to 1856:
31 local men have been ordained to the priesthood
5 more men have become religious brothers
92 women have become religious sisters (including 54 School Sisters of Notre Dame)
In fact, since 1995, five men have been ordained as priests, three men have been ordained as permanent deacons, and three young women have become religious sisters. Additionally, we have three seminarians currently pursuing priesthood: Deacon Ryan Sustacek,Thomas Cain, and Trevor Thorp. Deacon Ryan’s father, Steve Sustacek, is in discernment to become a permanent deacon, and current staff member Gabe Thorp is leaving to discern religious life with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal this fall.
Vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life require men and women whose hearts are open to God’s call and the movements of the Holy Spirit in their lives, parents and families who are willing to sacrifice so their children can pursue discernment, and a community that supports them both. Please continue to pray:
Bless this Archdiocese with many priests, deacons, brothers, and sisters who will love You with their whole strength and gladly spend their entire lives to serve Your Church and to make You known and loved. … Choose from our homes those who are needed for Your Work. Amen.