THE APOSTOLATE Strengthening the Church, One Semi
W
e all know from experience just not complete it. It’s a discernment how important our priests are. process, and we want to be a support They baptize us, marry us, bury us. They to them and offer our prayers for them hear our confessions and anoint us in because we need them as priests. We our darkest hour. They offer us Christ know that priesthood is a call from in the Eucharist. They share life’s joys God and a response to God, as He is and sorrows with us, and in so doing, asking them to embrace this vocation. become a part of our family. With the So our group wants to support that, number of vocations to the priesthood and prayer is the first priority.” on the decline, it is important — now Serving alongside Sr. Joan in this more than ever — for parishes around ministry is a small team including the world to spend time in prayer for an event planner, a Holy Hour our seminarians as they prepare for this coordinator, and two parishioners essential role in the life of the Church. who ensure that seminarians receive In 2008, a small Christ Renews His cards and gifts from our parish on Parish (CRHP) group at Our Lady Star their birthdays and other special of the Sea decided to begin praying occasions. regularly for our diocesan seminarians. Parishioners are encouraged to This year, Msgr. Brennan asked that this Sr. Joan Gabbin coordinates the Apostolate for participate in a private devotion Seminarians at Our Lady Star of the Sea. ministry be opened up to the whole for seminarians following the 8:30 parish, and the Apostolate for Seminarians was born. As a.m. Mass and Miraculous Medal Novena on Wednesday Chair of the ministry, Sister Joan Gabbin hosted a come-and- mornings. see introducing this apostolate to parishioners on March 2. Another goal of the Apostolate for Seminarians is to According to Sr. Joan, prayer is at the center of the facilitate personal connections between our parishioners Apostolate for Seminarians. and our diocesan seminarians. Parishioners and our school “The group was formed to pray for men that have entered students are encouraged to send inspirational notes to the the priesthood to stay on course,” she says. “We know that, seminarians and to attend the social gathering with them statistically, about 70 percent of men who enter seminary do planned for next summer.
“The group was formed to pray for men that have entered the priesthood to stay on course. We know that, statistically, about 70 percent of men who enter seminary do not complete it. It’s a discernment process, and we want to be a support to them and offer our prayers for them because we need them as priests. We know that priesthood is a call from God and a response to God, as He is asking them to embrace this vocation. So our group wants to support that, and prayer is the first priority.” 4
— SISTER JOAN GABBIN
