“Religious Vocations are the dimensions of the future.”

This is how Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan interprets the significance of March-Vocation Month. He said that a sufficient number of priests, sisters and brothers “Means more masses, more administering of the sacraments, more services, and more religious teachers.”

The archbishop said a sufficient number of priests and religious will enable the laity to better live their lives as Catholics, not only in the home, but also in the community and the world at large.

Archbishop Hallinan pointed to the special problem affecting this young archdiocese. In 1956, he said, there were 28 secular priests forming part of the newly established Diocese of Atlanta. Since that time, 11 have been ordained and three have died. This leaves a present day total of 36 secular priests working in the Archdiocese.

Significantly, however, seven of these priests have jobs within the diocese which take them for the most part away from parochial work. Thus, since 1956, there has been a net gain of only one priest for parish work, although Catholic population has increased form 22,000 to at least 35,000. An accurate present day figure will be available when the results of last Sunday’s census are disclosed.

Four priests are engaged in the work of the three new high schools which have sprung up since 1956. As Archbishop Hallinan pointed out, “With the erection of a diocese or an archdiocese, there is always a bishop named, but never any extra priests.’

The archbishop said that vocations should be of great significance to the laity—especially parents. They must ultimately see the priest, the sister, and the brother, as partners in the great religious adventure of the apostolate.

“Any Catholic family has its potential citizens—workers, lawyers, doctors, and general professionals,” the archbishop said. “It also has its potential priests, sisters, and brothers, destined to the religious life.

“Most parents are conscious of their responsibilities in this regard. Through prayer, and sometimes at great sacrifice, they encourage the religious vocation to its fruition. Good example and spiritual formation are the main ingredients for the nourishment of religious vocation in the everyday life of young people. Most young people have the generosity of heart which is an essential for the development of a real vocation to the religious life. It simply needs encouragement.

“The hallmark of the religious vocation is the complete love of God—this going so far as to give up everything for His service. Co-existent with this is that the true Religious must also have a love of fellowman.”

Archbishop Hallinan pointed out that new priests come from today’s homes, and that therefore there must be a constant effort to make them Christian homes. Parents must be willing to sacrifice their own personal wishes in regards to possible vocations for the young.

As to the immediate needs of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Hallinan said he has room for 12 extra priests right now. he said such needs could be broken down into three areas:

(1) Suburban development

(2) The Negro apostolate

(3) The apostolate to college students.

Despite the current shortage of priests, sisters and brothers, the archbishop said he had great faith in today’s parents. “They will”, he said, “provide for the future. Parents know its is their responsibility, their privilege, to give to the cause of religion those young people who desire the life of a Religious.”

Asked what advice he would give anyone who thought they had a vocation, Archbishop Hallinan said: “The first thing is to pray. The second is to seek advice and counsel. Pray to Almighty God that one is worthy of calling into His service in the Religious life. Discuss the matter with parents; and with a priest or sister or brother—depending on what one wants to be. There is not so much shortage of vocations as there is a shortage of young people who realize they have the calling to service in religion. This is where parental guidance and example is essential.

The archbishop pointed out that the Atlanta archdiocese was blessed with a very able and active director of vocations. He is Msgr. Patrick J. O’Connor, pastor of St. Thomas More, Decatur, Msgr. O’Connor is presently in Ireland, visiting the seminaries who are destined to serve in the archdiocese on completion of their studies and ordination.