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RARITAN BOROUGH — It is more likely youth might consider life as a religious brother or sister if they are presented with their works face to face, said Oratorian Father Thomas A. Odorizzi, pastor, St. Ann Parish, during the diocesan “Called by Name” vocations expo Nov. 6.
“[Religious life] is an option as a fulfilling way of life which brings joy and happiness and peace to others,” he continued, his voice raised over the sounds of laughter and fellowship in the cafeteria of St. Ann Classical Academy. The faith community hosted youth, their families, and representatives of religious orders in the diocesan celebration of National Vocations Awareness Week; clergy spoke from the church’s pulpit to share the details of their lives of service to the Church.
Father Jonathan “Jay” S. Toborowsky, diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, presided at Mass and gave the homily, during which he urged the faithful to ponder: “How does God call me to live a life of holiness so that I can see him in all his glory? How do we respond to the mission, the vocation that God has given us?”
For some, their vocation is marriage, others the single life, he continued. Those choices are not easy, but neither is religious life.
“Ask any of these religious sisters or brothers,” Father Toborowsky urged. “They will tell you, ‘yes, it is wonderful and fulfilling, but it does not make you sin-proof, it does not make you sad-proof.’
“You will have difficult struggles, you need prayers.”
Father Toborowsky advised the congregation to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, likening it to a spiritual ride through a car wash.
“Go to confession and get sins, get the dirt off. We need to get ourselves a car wash, to let the light shine through,” he said. “If you wander off the trail, God will show you the way back. It is not about success as this world sees it… the goal is to be with Christ, who loves us and wants us to be with him forever.”
Following the liturgy, a luncheon was held in the St. Ann Classical Academy cafeteria. Youth visited displays by the various orders of religious of the diocese. They listened to witness talks, picked up trinkets and literature, and exchanged smiles with the brother and sister servants of Christ. Sister of Christian Charity Anna Nguyen, Bishop James F. Checchio’s delegate for religious and consecrated life, explained her own life of service.
“The people of the Old Testament believed there is something greater than this life. We have faithfulness to the covenant of our vows, even in hard times,” Sister Anna said. “It is a lifetime commitment.”
Father Odorizzi expressed his thanks for the religious in attendance and professed the value of such an event.
“This makes it known there is such diversity in the Church,” he said. “Many young people today don’t have the same exposure as they did in the past when they saw religious in the schools and in public situations.
“I think, with the culture being what it is, any opportunity they could have to come to know religious, the better.”
For more information, contact the Office of Vocations at [email protected]
