Who will say yes?

I’m currently writing this week’s blog from my ministry placement in Vancouver. I’ve been here for almost two weeks. I’ve had many different experiences since I have arrived. Two days ago I was in Sechelt in the Sunshine Coast. It was beautiful there. I was at a meeting for First Nations ministry in the diocese of Vancouver. There was a moment of recognition for a priest that has served the community in Sechelt for many years. But wrapped up in this moment of celebration was a feeling of anxiety, a foreboding of the possibility of loss. Why? Because of the people feared that with their priest turning 75 years of age that he would go into retirement and that no one would be able to replace him. In my Oblate family over the past three years I have witnessed many of our most prophetic voices pass away and there aren’t that many coming up behind to pick up the slack.

Where is God in this struggle? It seems that there are less and less deciding to think about the priesthood and religious life. There is a need and it isn’t being fulfilled. So what are we to do? I’m not sure if there is anything we can do. It may be time to rethink, re-imagine, and re-vision what vocations are about. People aren’t beating down the doors to become Oblates, but I believe they should. If they come to know how important this mission to the poor is, and that the work that seems to be endless is only done by a few.

I don’t see there ever being a time when, hunger, brokenness, desolation, violence and pain ever go away completely. So when do people start standing up and take notice at what is happening in the world? When we are confronted with apathy at every corner are there just a few that can say, “I will dedicate my life to the most abandoned.”

This entry was posted on Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 2:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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