A Word from Fr. Eric Cadin
Brothers,
Welcome to our new VBlog for the Office of Vocations. Firstly, I want to say thank you to each and all of you for your Faith, your witness of priesthood, and your support of so many men responding to that voice of Jesus inviting them to follow after Him. I love being a Boston priest working with these men whom you inspire and whom Jesus calls to join us in this awesome mission.
Secondly, I want to offer our rationale for this effort. We in the Vocation Office are privileged to participate daily in the real and present Grace of God in the lives of countless men, young and old. In other words, we have tangible reasons for such great Hope. I want to share that with you.
Every month, through a prompt in Fr. Soper’s regular emails, we will offer a blub and link to this updated page. Here we will communicate four things: an updated chart of how many men, their age range, and where they are coming from of the men with whom we are working; a profile of a prospective candidate highlighting how his priest’s example inspired him; a resource for promoting well vocations in your own parish; and an updated list of upcoming events run through the Vocation Office.
Always, if you ever need anything or have a man whom it would be good for us to meet and to know, please reach out:
Fr. Eric Cadin [email protected]
617-840-1418 (cell)
Fr. Michael Zimmerman [email protected]
781-343-1975 (cell)
VOCATIONS BY THE NUMBERS
How it started... how it's going.
The chart below shows the significant increase in the number of men we’ve been able to engage with, regularly, through our digital campaigns. It also shows how the men have progressed to deeper levels – all due to qualifiers met and the frequency of their engagement with our newsletters, formative emails and video clips, and events.
John-Vincent Barcinas
Ascension Parish, Sudbury & Maynard
Meet John-Vincent Barcinas
Vince Barcinas is a 28-year-old man who came to the United States and the Archdiocese of Boston from the Philippines at about 5 years old. He grew up in Holliston and Acton. He and his two brothers were raised in a Faithful and supportive family environment where Mass and prayers were important. An altar server as a boy, he participated in CCD in Holliston and then in high school he was part of Generations of Faith. He took some theology classes while pursuing a chemistry degree at the University of Scranton – a Jesuit university in Scranton, PA.
Throughout his life he has experienced Jesus’ Mercy and Grace. More specifically he knows Jesus, his Savior and Redeemer, to be a friend. Vince recognizes so many people, peers among them, who are hurting, lost, and need a friend. Among the attractions to the priesthood is the capacity of the priest to bring the person of Jesus, through his own life and witness and ministry, to those in need.
When asked about important priests in his life: “The model priests in my life are Fr. Mark Coiro of St. Mary’s in Holliston and Fr. Gerald Souza of Ascension Parish across Maynard and Sudbury. They’re the dictionary definition of a priest in my mind – kind, serious when needed, funny when wanted, and devout. They guided and encouraged me at the key moments in the time I’ve known them, and if there’s anything I hope to emulate it’s the guidance that they gave me. Additionally, if I’m blessed I also hope I can get an ounce of their humor. Or at least copies of their jokes.”
Vince entered St. John Seminary this Fall in the Propaedeutic Year. Please pray for Vince, pray for all the men studying for the priesthood here in Boston, and pray for those men in your own parishes and ministries who recognize in your priesthood the call Jesus is placing in their own life.