Discussing Vocations In The Diocese Of Evansville
Do you realize how relevant the gospel stories in Scripture are to each of us? In John 21:1-14, Jesus reveals himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is a story about fishing, but not about the one that got away! There is a connection between evangelizing and telling fish stories. We should all “go fishing;” surely you do not want to miss hearing Jesus call out to you from the banks of the water.
In this gospel, Simon Peter tells the disciples, “I am going fishing.” They join him, and through the night, they catch nothing. At dawn, a man is seen standing on the shore. He tells them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat and suddenly they have so many fish in the net they cannot pull it in. The disciples quickly responded, “It is the Lord.” They have breakfast together on the shore and Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answers. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Simon Peter answers, “Yes, Lord” and Jesus replies, “Tend my sheep.” Peter is distressed when Jesus asks a third time and he says to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep and follow me.”
Peter had denied Jesus three times before his crucifixion. Weeping bitterly for the betrayal, Peter used the experience to sustain the members of the Church. He repented and with the grace of the Holy Spirit he was transformed. Here is the good news for us; we too can be transformed by the same Holy Spirit if we are faithful to God’s call and obey.
On Thursday, April 11, the junior and senior class members from Vincennes Rivet and Washington Catholic high schools met at the Rivet Annex in Vincennes to discuss vocations with members of different religious communities and with the Associate Director of Vocations for the diocese, Father Jason Gries. The students were given information and the opportunity to ask questions about religious life and priesthood in small group settings. While waiting for lunch to be served, Father Jason amused the students with a quick game of “Father Says.”
In attendance for the discussion group were Sisters of Providence from St. Mary of the Woods in Terre Haute, Ind., represented by Sister Editha Ben; Sister Jennifer Horner from the Sisters of St. Benedict, Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Ind.; Sister Joan Miller from Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Ind.; Sister Virginia Brooks from the Daughters of Charity in Evansville; Sister Pauline Albert from the Little Sisters of the Poor Community in Evansville; and Sister Michelle Sinkhorn from the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Ind., who is also an associate director of vocations for the Diocese of Evansville.
Each community presented a “booth” with brochures and handout materials. The posters and picture displays at each table reminded the students to be attentive to God’s “call” in their own lives, to seek God by being resourceful, to live prayerfully, to show hospitality to others and to serve the poor. The students were reminded that in ministry we must care for people and the Earth. Most important, ask God every day, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Father Jason Gries, who is also the pastor of St. John Daylight in Evansville, shared a poster with pictures of the 11 men currently studying in seminary for the diocese. He informed them that Deacon Christopher Droste would be ordained to priesthood this June. He shared information about the number of active priests and parishes in our 12-county diocese. His focus on the life of a diocesan priest and their daily schedule was a message quite like the conversation between Simon Peter and Jesus: If you love me, feed my lambs, tend my sheep and follow me.
Sister Pauline asked the students in her small group setting if the topic of spirituality was discussed among their friends. The students very quietly agreed that the subject was not a conversation they shared with their peers. How can we help make this important aspect of life a more comfortable topic for young people? There is another opportunity to learn more about vocations to Religious Life and Priesthood on Wednesday, May 29, at St. John Daylight, beginning with Mass at 5 p.m. CDT and “Picnic with the Bishop.”
Please mark your calendars and plan a fishing expedition for yourself; support the men and women who serve our diocese every day as true disciples of Jesus. Their witness and ministry clearly say, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you! Pray for vocations and read about the “Called by Name Program” at http://www.stationforvocations.org/ I hope you will join me… I am going fishing! Amen!
