By Fr. David Purcell, C.Ss.R.
I know that many of you have been praying for our vocation ministry of the Redemptorists. Thank-you kindly. In the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 66 we rejoice, “Truly God has listened; God has given heed to the words of our prayers. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected our prayer.”
I am encouraged by many opportunities for us to participate with other religious orders and dioceses. For example at the beginning of March the Jesuits, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Redemptorists from the Yorkton and Edmonton-Toronto Provinces, Dioceses of Winnipeg and St. Boniface, Benedictine Sisters, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, the Military Vicariate and many others joined in a vocation fair at a Catholic high school in Winnipeg. This was especially encouraging since last year when I asked around Winnipeg there was nothing like this at the time.
And of course another great example of collaboration is found in the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors. Fr. Ray Douziech is on the Board of Directors who held a National conference in Toronto in March. In the group picture at the right, you see left to right, Fr. Ray, Anne Walsh, Fr. Toby, myself and Fr. Tom. Fr. Ray and Anne Walsh both gave workshops and Fr. Toby is a Resurrectionist priest who was also presenting a workshop.
It was encouraging to talk with people from across Canada and to hear that young people are attracted to religious life. The Third Order Regular Franciscans who bought Clement House from us some years ago, continue to have postulants. The Salesian Sisters of John Bosco recently held a Discernment retreat in Vancouver with 15 women attending.
We have also started a new facebook page. You can check it out at www.facebook.com/plugintochrist.
Truly God has listened and given heed to the words of our prayers… Psalm 66
