3 minute read
Give Yourself to God
By REV. JASON KERN
I hope your summer has held up for you many of life’s moments of grace. Last month we shared about the ordinations in our diocese. This month I would like to hold up a couple of distinct moments of grace that are causes of great rejoicing and reflections of God’s providence and care.
This past month I attended the wedding of a young man who was strongly considering priesthood and seminary but never quite felt compelled or able to make the final leap into seminary formation. His best friend is a seminarian in the Archdiocese and gave the best man speech at his wedding. Both of these young men were students at Minnesota State, Mankato. It was powerful to hear how God brought about their conversions and then as friends how God ordered their lives for Himself.
I also had the opportunity to attend the final vows of a young woman who was a classmate of mine while I was in college (I was in seminary and attended classes at the university with her while we were at St. Mary’s University in Winona). I attended her final vows with three other priests who were classmates of mine while at IHM Seminary. This was a time of rejoicing in the vocation of consecrated life and a significant moment in her life of making those final vows and becoming a Bride of Christ as a religious.
It was not only a beautiful ceremony celebrated by Archbishop Hebda, but it was also a true moment of reflection for all of us who were friends in college to reflect on the work of grace so prevalent in our lives all these years. That God has called us as priests and her as a religious sister in the community of Pro Ecclesia Sancta to serve the Church. Another young woman that was her roommate and friend over the years is also finally professed in the Nashville Dominican community. It is remarkable what God has done! It has been over 15 years since I graduated from college and now as Vocation Director, I continue to see such beautiful graces of God calling individuals to follow Him and serve the Church. I have seen it consistently happen that much like we felt those years ago, still today young people feel compelled to give everything in service to God. Even when not called to be a priest or religious, young people want something lasting and noble to give themselves to and the longing of their hearts for meaning and purpose is found in giving all to follow Jesus. There is nothing more meaningful and beautiful than a beautiful Catholic wedding or the final vows or ordination of one giving themselves to God and His Church. May we continue to rejoice in the call of God for each young person and may our young people have great courage to say yes in following Jesus and His plan for their lives.
