By Father Serge Ward, Vocations Director

ATLANTA—Our archdiocese is currently sponsoring 54 men in formation for the priesthood. They hope to be counted one day among Atlanta’s 135 active, diocesan priests.

Despite our program’s recent success (41 priesthood ordinations in the last four years) there is still a great need of priests. Some relief has come from religious orders who are also experiencing personnel limitations.

Brian, a recent applicant, feels called even though he will give up the dream of having a large family of his very own.

“Saying ‘yes’ to God is a very hard thing, but God has revealed his will to me quite clearly. I feel called strongly to the ordained priesthood in Atlanta,” he said.

We are over 100,000 registered Catholic families here with numerous unregistered families. Some lay leaders in parishes are learning now how to cope with the priest personnel shortage.

It is the goal of the archdiocesan Vocations Office to promote vocations and to seek out men that are willing to discern a call to ordained priesthood in service of the people who form this archdiocese.

The Vocations Office works with pastors, religious orders, parish vocation committees as well as key organizations such as the Serra Club and the Knights of Columbus to accomplish its task. In fact, every Catholic has some time or talent to spend toward the fostering of healthy vocations. Parents have the special responsibility to instill in their own children the generous spirit that leads young men and women to consider a religious vocation.

It is far from enough for a man to only step forward and “desire” ordination. There is much work to be done after recruitment. The Vocations Office also exercises its energies toward the ongoing formation, evaluation and ordination of candidates. Some of our seminarians are enrolled in major seminary; others are completing their college degree as an entrance prerequisite. Each of the men in formation has completed a rigorous interview and screening process. Only after their acceptance do they begin formal preparation at one of the seminaries or colleges that Archbishop John F. Donoghue and the Vocations Office chooses based on the candidate’s strength and weakness.

Ralph Simcox, 33, went recently to attend his first year at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He began to discern priesthood while enlisted in the Air Force and working at the Chaplain’s Office in Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Simcox said, “The transition to seminary life has gone beautifully and has permitted a much greater focus on my spiritual journey.”

Simcox spent the summer learning and practicing Spanish and experiencing the Mexican culture. He looks forward to the end of formation when he might offer Mass to Hispanics in their native language. Summer parish assignments, the El Paso Spanish language program and clinical field education further the pastoral experiences of seminarians beyond the classroom.

Your generous support of the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal assists the Vocations Office in its very important work. A quarter of this year’s Annual Appeal goal of $4.5 million will be used to recruit, examine and form men into the image of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who came not to be served but to serve.

Above, FROM ROME TO ATLANTA -- Celebrating the Oct. 4 ordination to the transitional diaconate are (l-r) Father Mario DiLella, OFM, campus minister at Georgia Tech, Rev. Mr. Theodore Book, Rev. Mr. Dung Nguyen and Father Serge Ward, archdiocesan vocations director. Father DiLella took part in the ordination, helping to vest Rev. Mr. Book. The new deacons are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 2002.