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Strategic Action Plan
for Vocations
Diocese of
Brooklyn, NY
Put Out Into the Deep
As the ship passes under the Brooklyn Bridge
into New York Harbor, we too, can move forward in the development of a
new perspective toward vocation ministry.
Most
Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D.
Bishop of Brooklyn
CONTACT US!
Fr. Kevin J.
Sweeney
Vocation Director
Phone: (718)
399-5900 , ext 5505
Fax: (718) 399-5992
E-Mail:
vocations@diobrook.org
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MEET OUR
NEW VOCATION DIRECTOR
FATHER KEVIN J.
SWEENEY |
 "Follow Me." With these two words, Jesus called His apostles,
invited them to make an act of faith and trust, and offered them the privilege
of sharing in His work of salvation. Jesus calls each one of us from the moment
of our Baptism to follow Him as His disciples, as members of His Body, the
Church, and to share in His work of salvation. We also believe as Catholic
Christians, that Jesus' call to discipleship is unique for each one of us, that
we each have a particular "Vocation." The Church has historically identified
three "types" of vocations: single life, marriage, and priesthood or
religious (consecrated) life.
I personally first heard "the call" to priesthood through the
voice of Sister Margaret Mary (Igoe) OP, my 7th grade homeroom teacher in St.
Luke's Grammar School in Whitestone, Queens, where I grew up. Sr. Margaret Mary
was speaking to the class about Catholic High Schools and she mentioned
Cathedral Prep, a school for boys who think that they might have a vocation to
the priesthood. That was the first time I remember hearing the word
"vocation." I know that the "seed" of that vocation was planted much
earlier by the example and education given to me by my parents and it was a
long, strange, at times frustrating, but ultimately wonderful journey that led
me to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1997, thirteen years
after I had first heard "the call."
I am so grateful to God for seven wonderful years as a
priest. While sometimes it has been a great challenge, I feel I have been
incredibly blessed and privileged to serve as a priest in two extraordinary
parishes: St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Jamaica, and Our Lady of Sorrows,
Corona. While we know that priests and priesthood have gone through some very
difficult times in the last two years, my experience in working with and getting
to know the priests of our Diocese has been truly humbling, because their
example of fidelity, generosity, dedication and holiness is so
inspiring.
For all of these reasons, I am very happy that Bishop DiMarzio has
asked me to be the Vocation Director for our Diocese. I look forward to working
for and with Bishop DiMarzio, who is so supportive and enthusiastic concerning
the work of promoting vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Also,
I'm so happy to be working with Sister Regina Wilson who has worked and served
in the Vocation Office for 9 years now. We should all be grateful for Sr.
Regina's wisdom and leadership - I know that I am. I also look forward to
working with the priests, religious, seminarians and laity who are the Church in
Brooklyn and Queens. As we know, the work of fostering and supporting vocations
to the priesthood is OUR work and responsibility as disciples, as the Church -
not just the work of the Vocation Office.
Where do good, hoIy priests and religious sisters and brothers
come from? We know that vocations come primarily from holy, Catholic families -
parents, grandparents, godparents and others; from faithful, happy parish
priests, as well as religious, catechists and other parish leaders; from good,
Catholic grammar schools, religious education programs, high schools and
colleges - as well as from the Seminary and Formation programs. Yet, to go back
to the very beginning, all vocations - to priesthood, religious life, to
marriage and the single life - come from the Lord. He calls each one of us; He
looks in our eyes and says, "Follow Me." So, as I begin this challenging
ministry, I ask for your help in striving to do the Lord's work. I
especially ask for your prayers, because Jesus also tells us, "The harvest is
rich, but the laborers are few. Beg the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers
into the vineyard."
As we pray, we must also encourage. If you are a young (or not so
young) person reading this who thinks the Lord might be calling you to the
priesthood or religious life, or if you know someone who might be considering
such a vocation, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the Vocation
Office.
Let us
pray for one another and let us pray and work for an increase in vocations to
the priesthood and religious life.
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SPRING
TIME BRINGS
ORDINATION AND
RECEPTION |
ORDINATION
Fr. St. Charles
Borno
The years of my
priestly formation have come to an end with my ordination to the priesthood on
June 5th. This was a moment of great joy, as well as a moment of
fear, anxiety and deep concern. Upon entering the Cathedral-Basilica of
St. James and experiencing the joyful presence and support of the people of God,
I couldn't help but be proud that, "I made it," and feel empowered to go up into
the sanctuary and say "YES" to God.
As a young man
working in the industrial world as a machinist, I had many challenges facing me.
Yet the greatest challenge had yet to come, when the Lord called me to become a
priest. With much prayer and discernment, I pondered the thought and
faithfully answered the call to serve the Lord and His people. The urgency
to proclaim the Good News of salvation became alive within me. In other
words, "Zeal for God's house consumed me." (Psalm 69:10)
Today, I believe I
am fully equipped physically, socially, and spiritually to do God's work in this
beautiful Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, both as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady
of Miracles in Canarsie, as well as my involvement in the Haitian
Apostolate. I am very excited to be a priest, I love what I do, and I am
glad to be a member of a church that seeks to speak of God's mercy, compassion
and love in relevant and contemporary ways to a hungry and hurried world.
As a member of the Holy Priesthood of
Jesus Christ, I give thanks and praise to Almighty God for choosing me to be an
evangelist among His people, and I rely on Him to help me become a good and holy
priest.
CALLED
Sr. Linda Mersko
After a six-month
pre-postulancy period, I was received as a postulant into the Order of the
Visitation of Holy Mary when I joined my "yes" to that of Mary's on the Eve of
the Feast of the Annunciation this year. My gratitude overflowed into
tears of joy. I guess if I had to say all that I've been feeling
since then in one word, it would most certainly be - JOY!
Since some family
members were not accepting of my decision in the beginning, my first few months
at the Monastery were somewhat painful. The word "joy" gradually seemed to
take on a new meaning for me. To feel joy in the midst of loss, sorrow,
misunderstanding, and a family situation which I could not change unless I
reconsidered my vocation to contemplative life is pure gift. The source of
this joy is in living out what I feel is God's will for me. Living in the
present moment and keeping my focus on Who called me here and Who keeps me here
is essential.
My Sisters have
been very supportive and loving. Time spent with them at meals and
recreation has been just as enriching as our time together in prayer or my quiet
time apart.
The Lord speaks to
me in so many ways and I pray that each day of my discernment as a postulant
will find me open to hearing His voice.
My joy is to do
Your will, O Lord. God be praised!
A GRATEFUL HEART
Sr. Michelle DiCarlo
I first heard a
call from Jesus a few years ago on Holy Thursday evening while praying before
the Blessed Sacrament. Soon after, I attended the "Women Exploring" Program,
which is a vocation discernment program for women interested in consecrated
life. During that time I was introduced to the Vocation Directress of the
Visitation Monastery and decided to make a retreat with them. It was during that
time of retreat that I decided, with the help of a spiritual director, to take
off a semester from my graduate studies to discern my vocation. During that
time, I visited various communities and spent time in prayer, especially before
the Blessed Sacrament. I felt a special bond with the Sisters of Visitation and
eventually entered the Monastery on Easter Monday of that same year.
Recently, I was
privileged to enter the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary
on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 18, 2004. This feast day
is one of particular importance to our community, in which we participate in a
Novena of Masses in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The most prominent
feeling in my heart is one of gratitude to God for this opportunity to grow in
love of Jesus, and to wear a white veil as a sign of consecration to Him.
I am looking forward to this two year period in which I will reflect upon the
Constitutions of the Order, and learn from the writings of our founders, St.
Frances de Sales, and St. Jane de Chantal. In addition, I am hoping to
discern more deeply what it is that Jesus wills for me, and to prepare to take
my first vows.
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