Paula
Pantaleo
 Why
are you interested in promoting and supporting
vocations to the Priesthood and Religious
life?
Being the mother of three boys, ages 20,
18 an 15 I feel that most parents do not
realize that God may be calling their children
to the Priesthood or Religious Life! I realized
this one day when, my oldest son, Chucky
was helping me at church one day (he was
about 12 at the time) and our priest, Fr.
Ed Doughty said to Chucky, “Have you
ever thought of becoming a priest?”
Well, I almost had a stroke because Chucky
was not what I had ever considered “priest”
material. He was more like the child from
hell! Then, that evening, I began to ponder
this. What if God was calling Chucky to
be a priest? As ludicrous as the thought
was, I began to take it seriously! I even
began to think of my other two sons as priests!
Wow! Why don’t parents think that
their children are priest material? They
should! If God is calling them, then they
should respond! That is how I began interested
in promoting vocations. I thought it was
a necessity for our young people to consider
a vocation to the priesthood and religious
life, and I think it imperative for the
parents to support and encourage them in
this endeavor.
Can you give some
practical suggestions of ways in which parishioners
can promote and support vocations?
Yes! First of all, you MUST support your
own parish priests, sisters, brothers and
deacons! Invite them to your house for dinner,
send them encouraging notes, have a Mass
said for them. Most of all, pray for them!
Put notices in the parish bulletin of their
anniversaries. Thank them for giving so
much of themselves. Our young people need
to know how important their ministries are!
Join your parish Vocation Committee. If
your parish doesn’t have one, then
get on the bandwagon and start one yourself!
If we do not have enough priests, then we
will not be able to have Mass in the future!
The future of our Catholic Heritage depends
on priests! I have a bumper sticker on my
car that says “We are thankful for
our Priests”. I am proud to drive
around with it!
What are
some activities that your parish has tried
in order to promote and support vocations?
How did the activities go?
St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth has implemented
the Vocation Crucifix Program which went
very well for two years. The crucifix traveled
each week to a different family for them
to take home and pray for vocations. They
received the crucifix at Mass from the family
who had just participated the previous week.
They also received a prayer card to display
and pray each night for vocations. It made
the families as a whole think more about
vocations, when in the past I don’t
think they would have.
We have also held our annual “Vocation
Week” in which the Religious Education
Department invited various guest speakers
to give witness talks on vocations. Parents
and parishioners were invited to attend
as well. We had many guest speakers from
various vocations such as, The Daughters
of St. Paul, Little Brothers of St. Francis,
Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Seminarians
from St. John’s Seminary, Little Sisters
of the Poor, Xaverian Brothers, Franciscan
Priests, our own parish priests, sister
and deacon as well! It has been very successful
and enlightened many people about vocations,
not only to the priesthood and religious
life, but the deaconate, marriage and the
single life as well.
We have done many
other things as well, most recently we were
able to host the Traveling Monstrance at
our parish, and we packed the house with
people praying for vocations! How wonderful!
Anything you want
to add?
The Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of
Boston is the BEST at helping and assisting
the area parishes in anything they need.
They will come and give talks, provide prayer
cards, etc. Also, don’t forget about
your local Knights of Columbus! They are
an excellent resource and are able to  acquire
posters,etc.
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Why
are you interested in promoting and supporting
vocations to the Priesthood and Religious
life?