Called by Name 

In Tampa, Florida there is an all-boys Catholic high school where over 100 students were received into the Catholic Church between 2010-2023, including 22 students in 2021 alone. In a National Catholic Register profile, an alumnus of Tampa Jesuit spoke about how his experience there helped him to discover a vocation to the priesthood. “I certainly didn’t have any desire to be a priest when I was going into Jesuit. I didn’t have any desire for a life of virtue in general… [but] I can say for my life, [God] has surprised me in so many wonderful ways and fulfilled so many of my desires beyond my wildest dreams, just from being faithful to Him and following Him.” The many conversions in recent years, the fruit of which includes several priestly vocations, are attributed to the culture at the school which features peer-to-peer ministry, daily Mass and frequent opportunities for confession, as well as retreats and mission trips. Fr. Richard Hermes, SJ, who served as school principal for 16 years until 2023, describes the graduates of Tampa Jesuit as “leaving here with a mentality of being at the service of the Church.” This is a much different approach to life in the Church than is typically fostered in a consumerist society such as ours, which subtly shapes the faithful to think that the Church is just one of many service providers, that exists to offer us experiences and things we want, when and how we want them. This mentality fails to foster within us genuine love for the Church, let alone a readiness to offer our lives in its service as a priest or in religious life. 

At Tampa Jesuit, this vital Catholic self-understanding of being at the service of the Church was instilled in these young men in large part by the example of the priests on the school faculty, who put themselves entirely at the service of the students. Another former student actively considering a priestly vocation described the priests he met there as “some of the best men, in general, that I’ve ever been able to spend time with… incredible people who really made the faith personal and available to me.” A third recent alumnus who is in priestly formation for the Jesuits noted the how significant a personal invitation by Fr. Hermes to consider the priesthood was for him, especially since Hermes was someone he admired so much. 

This weekend, Bishop Caggiano is asking parishes throughout the diocese to participate in a special vocations initiative, “Called by Name.” The faithful are asked to share names of young men they know whom they think might have a priestly vocation. Cards with information on how to share the name of a potential candidate are available at the tables by the church exits. Whether you recommend someone or not, I will share with you something that weighs on my mind. The last priest to be ordained from St. Cecilia’s was Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick. The last priest to be ordained from St. Gabriel’s was Fr. Greg Mecca. Both were ordained well over 30 years ago. Since then, I know of only one man from any parish in Stamford who has been ordained to the priesthood – Fr. Ferry Galbert. In a city with so many Catholics, one wonders why there are so few native sons among our priests? Theories abound. But the story about Tampa Jesuit shows us that Jesus is still calling many young men to give their lives in service of Him and His Church as priests. The question is, are we building a culture in our parish, in our schools, in our homes that encourages and facilitates a generous and loving response among those called?  Or are we actually doing the opposite?  God help us if it be the latter.  

posted 1/11/25