Hello,
My name is Fr. Craig Giera, and I am the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. You may have heard that we have a vocation crisis going on in our world, but that’s not exactly true. God has never stopped calling men to the priesthood.
In approximately ten years, here in the Archdiocese of Detroit, there is going to be half the number of active priests than those serving today. That means less Masses being said, less confessions being heard, priests not there to be able to celebrate in the joys, and to be with you there through the struggles. I don’t say this to cause despair, but rather to stir up that gift of hope that was given to us at our baptism, that theological virtue that says we have already won in Christ. God will provide the grace that we need to accept this challenge. Yet, we need to do our part.
Our response is prayer. Prayer is powerful and not a consolation prize. I have consecrated the vocations department, all its work, and all the young men in the Archdiocese of Detroit who do have a vocation to the priesthood to her Immaculate Heart, that she will protect and guide them. But I have also committed to saying an extra Rosary every single day — the Luminous Mysteries for priestly vocations — and I invite you to do the same. If you can’t do it every day, maybe at least once a week. Can you imagine that if even just half the Archdiocese prayed a Rosary a day for vocations, the generous response we would receive?
Our second response is to encourage and invite our grandsons, sons, nephews— someone in our life that we think has the characteristics to make a good and holy priest. It would be great to sit them down and make it a sacred moment, a special moment. Saying, “I believe you would make a good priest. I’ll pray with you on that. I’ll be here for you.” You would be a St. Barnabas to them, one who offers encouragement!
I’m so excited to share with you our website at www.detroitpriestlyvocations.com. In it, you’ll find many resources that will help support priestly vocations. There are also many resources for men who are discerning the call to the priesthood. Check out our podcast, “Men of the Hearts”; we talk to priests about their vocation stories.
Brothers and sisters, St. Paul reminds us that hope does not disappoint because the love of Christ has been poured forth into our hearts. Together let us hope, but also to pray, invite, and encourage young men to consider the priesthood. I’m so happy to be here with you this week to pray for more vocations.
God bless,
Reverend Craig Giera