Exiit qui seminat

This Sunday marks the beginning of National Vocation Awareness Week, the annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are discerning the Lord's call in their lives. Normally, the focus in the Diocese of Camden has been for an increase of vocations for the diocesan priesthood.  There is still a pressing need for vocations to the priesthood and each and every one of us have the obligation to be parish "vocation directors" and encourage young men to pray about entering a special life of service to God by being His priests. However, as we were made aware at our annual priest convocation, the numbers of permanent deacons in our diocese are dropping to an all time low. As a pastor, I can't express how much I rely on Deacon Rich in helping minister to our parishioners and the effects of his dedication to the good people of Vineland is immeasurable.  However, in four years, our own Deacon Rich will be at retirement age and it will be up to whoever is pastor (and of course Deacon Rich) to determine how active he continues to be. Currently we have 16 candidates studying for the diaconate and I can tell you personally that they are a great group. However, unless we can get a group of at least 10 new candidates, the Diocese of Camden won't start a new class for the permanent diaconate. Just like men discerning for the priesthood, the local Church here in Camden now needs to place as much emphasis on the permanent diaconate as we do for the priesthood. If you are interested in learning more about the permanent diaconate, I ask you to come to Man Up South Jersey at Pope St. Paul VI High School on Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 7 AM to 3 PM. The Office of the Permanent Diaconate will have an information table there. Let us continue to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and religious life.