Editorial

Did you know that there were 245 priests serving the Diocese of Madison in 1960? Today we have less than 100 priests serving in our diocese - yet we have 134 parishes.

In addition, priests are needed for special ministries as hospital chaplains, vocations director, apostolate to the handicapped director, and in Hispanic ministry.

Two new priests were ordained for the Diocese of Madison this year, but there are no ordinations scheduled for the next two years. It is estimated - with retirements and deaths - that there will be only 53 diocesan priests in the next 10 years.

Anyone can do the math. There will not be enough priests to serve in our parishes and special ministries - if the statistics continue the way they have been going.

We need priests. The Diocese of Madison is undertaking a new strategic planning process to help decide the future direction the diocese will take. The first part of the process is addressing the declining number of priests available.

Obviously, we need priests to celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments, and engage in the work of the church and building up of the community. We need priests to further the mission of Christ in our local church. Of course, we also need Sisters, deacons, and dedicated lay people to work with them.

All of us can and should be involved in encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese. Our future priests and Sisters must come from our own families and parishes.

Seminarians doubled. With much prayer and work in fostering vocations, we are fortunate to have 10 new seminarians studying to become priests for the Diocese of Madison this fall. That doubles the number of seminarians from 10 to 20.

But we need even more seminarians to turn the tide on the number of future priests. And we need more consecrated women to dedicate their lives in service to the church.

We can all do something. We can all do something to encourage more church vocations. "The Spirit is among us, urging us to meet the challenge with new energy and creativity," says Sr. Cathy Bertrand, a School Sister of Notre Dame, in an article on "Why Become a Priest, Sister or Brother Today?"

Here are some of her suggestions:

1. Invite! Invite! Invite! The number one reason why people don't consider religious life and priesthood is that no one ever asked. It is critical that people raise the question, "Have you ever considered being a Brother, priest, or Sister?" Even if the person responds with shock or laughter, the seed has been planted.

2. Be supportive. Those considering religious life and priesthood need encouragement. They also need the witness of adults who say with their words and their lives that commitment is possible.

3. Focus on the positive. There is much negative press and critical publicity about religious life and priesthood today. These issues demand sensitive and effective attention. Yet we also need to focus on the positive aspects of priesthood and religious life. Priests and religious appreciate a word of thanks and encouragement.

4. Pray for vocations. Prayer is a vital element in parishes and families, not just prayer for more vocations, but prayer which honestly seeks the response to which the Spirit is inviting us today.

Let's not wring our hands and do nothing. Let's get involved in promoting and encouraging vocations. The future of our church depends on what we do today.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Vocations are everyone's business

To the editor:

The 20 seminarians smiling from the August 18 cover of the Catholic Herald made my day! Bishop Morlino, Bishop Bullock, Bishop Wirz, Father Bartylla, priests, and others too numerous to mention deserve our thanks. Obviously, the real vocation director is God.

In coming years priests will be fewer. Since canon 233 states basically that vocations are everyone's business, we Catholics need to persevere in prayer, encouragement, and embraced hope.

The hopeful Vocations Strategy adopted by the U.S. Bishops reminds parents of their crucial role in encouraging vocations.

Also Bishop Loverde, chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Vocations, stresses helping us priests to discern our ministry's importance and urges us to more enthusiastically invite others to consider priesthood.

At a deanery meeting, the priest-dean invited 12 of us priests to share who influenced our vocation most. The majority said that Msgr. Ewald Beck did. Wow!

Furthermore, Bishop Loverde urges parishes to keep inviting youth to Mass, religious ed, retreats, youth groups, campus ministry, and more.

Finally, let's keep praying, supporting, and encouraging priestly and religious vocations.

May our diocese keep helping young men to discern a priestly vocation. May 35 or 50 seminarians smile someday soon from our Catholic Herald's cover!

Fr. Don Lange, Madison