Print Issue: January 23, 2003

Event Plants Seeds To Reap Future Priests, Religious

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-As students crowded into the St. Pius X High School gymnasium Jan. 14, they were encouraged to put their thoughts of the present-of tests and homework, of sports and friends-on the back burner and, instead, ponder their futures.

Celebrated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue, the annual St. Pius vocations Mass, sponsored by the Serra Clubs of North Georgia, gave students a chance to explore their options.

In his homily, Father Brian Higgins, vocations director, asked the students to consider the first question God posed to mankind.

"God asks man in the Bible, 'Where are you?'" he said. "God was not asking about their physical location, but was asking, 'Where are you, spiritually, emotionally? Where are you with me?'"

His own calling was a battle between his will and God's will, he said.

"I knew God was calling me to the priesthood, but I avoided it like the plague. Who wants to be a priest? I could think of more reasons why I should not become a priest than reasons I should," he said. "Becoming a priest was a little too much for me. I was hoping God would settle for me becoming a lector or a eucharistic minister. I could think of a million reasons why I shouldn't become a priest and only one reason why I should-God called me."

A poster that said "For God's sake, do something with your life," inspired Father Higgins to further consideration.

"I had done things for my parents' sake, for my teachers' sake, for my friends' sake and for my own sake, but I had never done anything truly and only for God's sake," he said. "You see, Mary was not called holy just simply because Jesus was her son. She was called holy because God was the center of her life, just like he should be in all our lives."

"God is a jealous God. He doesn't want part of you or even part of your family. He wants it all," he continued. "Each one of you has a vocation and that is a vocation to holiness-to be willing to trust and to live out our calling, not only for our sake, but for God's sake-for the sake of our souls and, most importantly, for the sake of our salvation."

After Communion, Archbishop Donoghue offered his own words of encouragement to the students.

"It's very inspiring to look around and see so many handsome young men and so many beautiful young ladies, and I am convinced that some of these young men hear the Lord calling them to the priesthood and that some of the ladies hear a calling to Religious life," he said.

He then addressed the seniors.

"All I would ask of you is that you spend some time thinking, before you leave this year, 'What does God want me to do with my life?'" he said.

The call to marriage is in itself a special vocation, but it is not the only one, he said.

"Marriage is a wonderful vocation," he said. "It's how the Lord procreates and keeps the world full of wonderful people. But someone needs to take care of those people and that's why he calls those to priesthood and to Religious life."

Angela Raviele, campus minister at St. Pius, said that the vocations Masses make an impression on the students.

"I really think seeing the young priests makes an impact," she said. "When Father Higgins was talking about how he grew up in Dunwoody and played sports, I think there are kids thinking, 'Wow, I could do that.' It brings it down to earth that these are real men who have dedicated their lives to God. That witness makes such a difference."

Ben Bourgeois, a senior, said that the homily was comforting.

"Usually when you have someone talk about vocations, you just hear them say 'we need priests,' but it was good to hear that if you're called to the priesthood, you'll just know," he said.

Mike Nadolski said the Mass encouraged him to consider his own calling.

"It really inspired me to think about alternative lifestyles, outside of just going to college and getting a job," he said. "It made me really think about the priesthood."

Kristina Krawczyk, also a senior, said that she thought the students were "quiet, respectful and deep in thought" about their vocations during the Mass.

"I thought it was really inspiring," she said. "(Father Higgins) really made a point to relate to all the students and make us all think about the future."