World Day of Prayer supports vocations
By Kathryne Rakowski
Contributing writer
This year marks the 60th year for the World Day of Prayer for vocations, and once again Bishop Douglas J. Lucia invited people to come together as a diocesan family for a Holy Hour for Vocations, held May 3 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
A Holy Hour is a beautiful Catholic tradition of spending an hour in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration. This Holy Hour gave people the opportunity to intentionally pray for the vocations of priesthood, diaconate, religious life and married life. It also gave people the opportunity to step away from the hectic nature of everyday life and make a space for God.
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia is the principal celebrant.
“The Bishop is inviting us to pause and take some time away from all the noise that surrounds us,” said Father Jason Hage, Director of the Office of Vocation Promotion. Hage explained that the start to any vocation begins with an intimate relationship with Christ. “Any vocation will only happen if we make room for silence. We must be attentive to God’s voice. This creates a space for that.”
Joanne Brusa, a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Fairmount, attended the Holy Hour with her husband, John Brusa, Jr., and agrees that making time for silence and prayer is essential, especially for young people considering religious life.
“It’s not that God is not calling as many people to the priesthood and religious life; I think it’s that not as many people are listening. It takes courage to answer that call and our young people need our prayers and support to take that next step.”
The Brusas have a son currently in the seminary and make it a priority to pray that other young men will answer that call.
“An increase in vocations to the priesthood should be on everyone’s prayer list. They are the future leaders of our Church that will help continue Jesus’ presence on Earth, guiding his flock through administering the sacraments,” John Brusa, Jr. shared.
Father Jason Hage delivers the homily during the holy hour. (Sun photos l Chuck Wainwright)
In addition to prayer, the hour consisted of Scripture, music and a homily by Father Hage in which he talked about the first time he experienced Eucharistic Adoration while a high schooler and the profound effect it had on him.
“For the first time ever in my young life, the lightbulb went off. This is Jesus,” he said, pointing at the monstrance. “And that changed everything.” After that, Fr. Hage realized he wanted to be a priest. “I wanted to give my life to making sure everyone had access to this life-changing gift.”
The homily hit home for Carlos Gonzalez, Youth Minister at St. Augustine’s and St. Mary’s in Baldwinsville. It was in high school that he too experienced Eucharistic Adoration for the first time. Since then, he regularly finds strength and guidance from this practice. As a Youth Minister, he tries to expose his youth group to this form of prayer often.
“I have witnessed firsthand the benefits of giving young people the opportunity to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “I believe St. Augustine’s and St. Mary’s thriving youth ministry is a result from our teens’ regular encounter with God in Adoration. In these moments, God is able to transform their minds, hearts and souls, and surely gives them the fire of the Holy Spirit!”
Seminarian Joseph Ryan served at the Holy Hour and found the evening very encouraging, ending the night with a feeling of hope.
“It was so wonderful to see many people gather at the Cathedral to pray for more answered vocations in our diocese,” he said. “Each person has been given a vocation, a special call that only they can answer. Hopefully the prayers of those gathered here can stir the hearts of young people to respond to the call the Lord has already placed in their hearts.”
Father Hage was glad so many people attended, as it gave people the opportunity to put their faith above other commitments.
“Coming out of the pandemic, people have all these priorities, but is faith one of them? We’ve lost our ability to pick the priority of faith,” he said. “This needs to be our first priority. THE priority.” He also added that he hopes practices like this encourage young discerners to let go of anything holding them back and go to where God is leading them.
“Young people don’t trust commitment. They think somehow they’ll lose their happiness. But only through sacrifice do we find true happiness. If we truly imitate what we find in the Eucharist, then we will truly find joy.”
For more information on priesthood and religious life, including programs and upcoming events that the vocation office will be hosting, visit https://vocations-syracuse.org/.
