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DISCERNMENT
Father Tim Holeda
Many of you often hear in the news media troubling statistics concerning the number of men either entering seminary or being ordained to the priesthood. These reports paint a pretty bleak picture and can be discouraging, but do they tell the whole story?
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In the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, we just admitted six men for formation in the seminary, and we are on schedule to ordain five men this calendar year. Our total number of seminarians this fall places us within the top ten dioceses in the nation per capita for number of men in formation. What makes those dioceses with large numbers of seminarians different from many places in the country? The difference maker is often the presence of a vibrant campus ministry coupled with priests, sisters, and missionaries that live their faith with joy and zeal.
In a world that is often noisy, distracting, and busy – our Co-Cathedral and campus ministry presence across the street provides a refuge and a space where our students can encounter the living God, reflect on their own lives, and share meaningful relationships with their peers. It is often here where a young man or woman will hear the voice of God inviting them to explore a vocation to serve the Church as a consecrated religious or a priest.
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This past March we held our yearly diocesan discernment retreat for the priesthood! I am grateful that we had so many men that we ran out of beds at the retreat center! This year, the seminarians at different stages of formation shared their own story, what their experience of seminary is like, and what they are looking forward to. We try not to hide anything…it is essential that the men on this retreat know full well what they are signing up for if they decide to do it. One of our Franciscan sisters also organized a “nun run” in which several women travelled and visited numerous religious communities.
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As much as we rejoice over the fruit of religious vocations that are nurtured in our campus ministry, we would be negligent if we did not point out the need for authentic and beautiful vocations to marriage. Countless married couples today found their spouse while attending the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More and participating in campus ministry events! How many children are the fruit of these unions? Can we even attempt to calculate the impact that all of these families have on the world around us?
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It is a unique privilege for me to have a front row seat the past several years as I have seen men and women discern their lives, enter seminary or religious life, or find themselves in the self-gift to their spouse in marriage. It is a sacred responsibility to accompany these students, cherishing their sacred freedom, and encouraging them in their pursuits. I am grateful to all of you who support our work here at Catholic Noles – you are truly helping in making an impact in the lives of these students.
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Very Rev. Tim Holeda, Rector of Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More,
Director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
