Project offers resources to help priests be 'fishers of men'

Published: 2005-10-03

TAMPA, Fla. (CNS) -- Priests working to promote the priesthood by example and inviting men to discern a call would be a far more effective tool for vocations than slick ad campaigns, a priest told his fellow vocation directors. Father Edward J. Burns, executive director for vocations and priestly formation at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered that suggestion as he introduced the USCCB's "Priestly Life and Vocation Summit: Fishers of Men," a step-by-step presbyteral workshop to promote vocations, to U.S. diocesan vocation directors. "The priestly gift of invitation carries with it the obligation of inviting others," Father Burns said. "Being fishers of men is a ministry, a life, a call. Priests are fishers of men." The Sept. 24-28 convention -- with the theme "Called to Follow the Son" -- drew about 200 vocations directors to Tampa. Citing a survey of U.S. men ordained in 2003, Father Burns said 78 percent of them said a priest invited them to discern a call. However, a 2001 study showed that only 30 percent of diocesan and religious priests in the United States actively invite men to the priesthood.

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