World Day of Prayer for Vocations

When people call my office and want to talk about getting married we first talk about a few things, two of which are “how long have you known each other?” and “how did you two meet?” As vocations director for the diocese when I am approached by people who want to be a priest or are thinking about the possibility I ask them “so how long have you had this feeling and how long have you been involved with your parish?” It’s the parish that is the bride and the priest is the bridegroom (in persona Christi). It’s all about relationships! Is it not?

Pope Francis has 7 Pillars of priestly life.

1)The Strength of a priest depends on his relationship with Christ.

2)The priest must be close to the people he serves.

3)A priest’s authority must be linked to service, especially to the care and protection of

  the poorest, weakest, the least important and most easily forgotten.

4)The priest must be a minister of mercy.

5)The priest is called to a simplicity of life.

6)The priest must be a model of integrity.

7) The priest is to be a source of blessing for his people.  

We might have a vision of what we want our marriage to be, but we must all help support the vision of our priests and religious since we are all integrated into each of their vocations in some way. As we celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations, let’s keep in mind our children and young adults who are striving to find their vocation in life. I’m convinced that the more they immerse themselves in their faith life, they will discover it like that Pearl of Great Price.

Fr. John

Make your CSA pledge today! Click Here

The Catholic Sharing Appeal (CSA) is a wonderful success story.  It is the story about the Church here in Northwest Florida and the Big Bend, a story in which each and every one of us has a part to play.  It is a local story of how the people of God have built this Church up to where it is now.

The Catholic Sharing Appeal was instituted when the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was formed in 1975.  Established without many reserves of its own, the diocese and parishes relied upon this vital funding source to carry on essential operations to survive as a local Church.  Today, CSA continues to be used to allocate funds at the diocesan level for expenses that extend past the parish for regional responsibilities, while parishes retain funds received in excess of goal for capital projects and programs within their parish.

By giving funds through CSA, the people of God assist their bishop and pastor in carrying out the three-fold mission of the Church: teaching, serving and worshipping.  Since accomplishment of the Church's mission is of foremost importance, CSA affords parishioners a special opportunity to fulfill their baptismal call to discipleship.

CSA specifically funds programs, services and functions that are coordinated from the Pastoral Center and are extensions of the Office of Bishop.  The administrative divisions of the Church of Pensacola-Tallahassee include the Bishop, Vicar General, Chancellor, as well as Secretariats for Communications, Financial Administration, Special Ministries, Social Concerns, Education and Apostolates.   Some of these ministries attend to needs beyond the scope of individual parishes and some exist for the sole purpose of assisting parishes in their mission to teach, evangelize and provide good liturgical experiences.

CSA sets aside a time which offers us an opportunity to renew (rededicate) ourselves to stewardship through involvement in our parish and diocesan communities. Annually, CSA provides time for parishes to ask parishioners to make a pledge which helps meet the needs of the broader Church community.

Sunday, April 22nd is the World Day Of Prayer For Vocations. Please join us Saturday morning, April 21st, after the 8 am Mass for a holy hour with Fr. John to pray for vocations throughout the world.

Our Diocese has established Victim Assistance Coordinators to help anyone who has been abused by church personnel. Victims should call Dr. James Gagnon at 877-0205.  To report a case, call the 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-962-2873.
Coordinadores para asistencia a victimas (Dejanos ayudarte a encontrar la sanacion) Deacon Santiago Molina, 850- 627-2350