APRIL 15, 2022 MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
4 VOCATIONS CALLED BY NAME
I am pleased to announce that we have a new seminarian enrolling the fall. Mr. Richard Martin, Jr. (EJ) has been accepted to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Jackson and will be enrolling at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans this August. EJ grew up at St. Richard Catholic Church and attended St. Richard and St. Joseph Catholic Schools. After graduating from Spring Hill College in Mobile, EJ was working in Austin, Texas, but discerned that the Diocese of Jackson is where he is called to continue his discernment. It has been a great gift to walk with EJ, who I had met a few times here and there as he came home to visit family when I was the parochial vicar at St. Richard. I have gotten to know him much better over the past year or so as we have embarked on a ‘pre-discernment’ process which has led him to this point. Our application process for the priestly formation program in the diocese is very involved, but it helps the applicant, and the church, decide whether or not the diocesan seminary is the right place for formal discernment. One of the aspects of the process which is particularly helpful is the vocations board. This is a group of parishioners from around the diocese (mostly the Jackson area) that agree to meet with an applicant after he has met all the other ‘objective’ requirements for admisFather Nick Adam sion. As the vocation director, I provide them with a review of the application process, and then every applicant meets speaks with them about his journey so far. The Board is then invited to ask any questions of the applicant, and of me, about the process and to discuss frankly whether seminary is the right choice for that man. This is a great opportunity for the church to speak with men who, God-willing, will be future priests, and it also gives me perspectives that are extremely valuable which are brought to the Bishop as he decides whether each applicant is a good fit for seminary formation. I believe God is calling many more men to the seminary than are currently in the seminary, but we almost must be prudent, patient and collaborative in this process. I am so pleased that we have accepted another excellent applicant Richard (EJ) Martin to study for the priesthood. When we as a church send a man off to seminary, we simply can’t predict whether the Lord will call him ‘all the way’ to the priesthood, but we can do our best to ensure that he is a position spiritually, personally and emotionally to thrive in the seminary program, and whether or not he reaches ordination, he will be an great asset and continue to build up the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of Jackson. Please keep EJ in your prayers as he embarks on this next step, I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for him, and I know he’ll be a great asset to our excellent group of seminarians! – Father Nick Adam If you are interested in learning more about religious orders or vocations to the priesthood and religious life, please email nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.
Invite the Holy Spirit into your stewardship journey the Holy Spirit; asking that He be showered upon us. The Holy Spirit is always there and “helps us in our By Julia Williams weakness; for we do JACKSON – The not know how to pray POWERFUL PRAYER TO month of April is dedias we ought, but that cated to the Third Person THE HOLY SPIRIT very Spirit intercedes in the Trinity, the Holy with sighs too deep for Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and Spirit. Every time we rewords.” (Romans 8:26kindle in them the fire of your love. cite the Nicene Creed, we 27) worship the Holy Spirit as In your daily Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And God. prayers, invite the Holy You shall renew the face of the earth. • The love of the FaSpirit into your stewther for the Son is total. ardship journey, asking O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did God the Father empties for guidance on how instruct the hearts of the faithful. Grant that by the Himself completely, holdyou can share your same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy ing nothing back from the gifts in love of God and His consolations, Son. neighbor. • The love of the There are many Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Son for the Father is tovariations of prayers tal. God the Son empties available, but the Himself completely, holdprayer below is a very ing nothing back from the popular and powerful prayer. Father. Together in our journey of steward• The love of the Father for the Son and the Son ship, may God bless us and may we for the Father is the Holy Spirit. The love that is the respond as faithful disciples – faithful exchange of Persons between Father and Son is the Life stewards. that is the Spirit, with no beginning and no end. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, Stewardship is a conversion journey of receiving and God will establish your plans” ProvGod’s love and returning love to Him. A conversion re- erbs 16:3 quires prayer, reflection, and time to allow God to show us who we are and the person of love that we can be(To subscribe to the monthly Stewardcome. ship PATHS newsletter, scan the QR code. The apostle Jude reminds us to make every prayer in Excerpts: bigcatholics.blogspot.com)
STEWARDSHIP PATHS
The Holy Spirit, traditionally depicted as a dove, is pictured in a stained-glass window at St. John Vianney Church in Lithia Springs, Ga. Other symbols include a flame, wind, lamp, rays of light and clouds. The feast of Pentecost, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, is June 5 this year. (CNS photo/ Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin)
