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Seminarian Education Fund Making a Difference on January 19 - 20, 2008. Message from Bishop McCormack What You Can Do Prayer for Vocations Meet Our Seminarians A Community Working Together Make a Contribution

Message from Bishop McCormack

Dear Friend in Christ,

In his Encyclical, Deus caritas est, Pope Benedict XVI wrote that vocations to the priesthood “flourish within the people of God whenever there are those in whom Christ can be seen – through his Word, in the sacraments and especially in the Eucharist.”

The Holy Father provides us with two key elements for our understanding how the Church fosters vocations. We see that vocations “flourish” within our Catholic communities, within our own families. Each and every priest comes from a parish. He comes from a family. When both the parish and family create the culture that both supports and encourages vocations, then we will have more “laborers in the vineyard.”

Pope Benedict also paints a clear picture of who a priest is – namely, someone who brings us the Word of God, is present to us in the Sacraments, and offers the Eucharist to be the center of our lives in Christ. This is the call the Lord makes to those who are willing to follow and serve him as his priests; this is what attracts young men to the priesthood.

Each year I ask you, as the community of God, to help educate those who are responding to God’s call. The gifts you make go directly to help pay for the seminarians’ education and formation. Just as the cost of universities rises each year, so do the expenses for our young men preparing for the priesthood. I am humbled by your generous response, which last year topped two hundred-twenty thousand dollars. I pray that you continue to be so supportive.

Finally, I ask you to pray as a family, as a parish, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Our Church needs committed men and women who seek to be holy and desire to be leaders in the mission of the Church to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

God bless you for all you do for our Church. I deeply appreciate your goodness.

Sincerely and gratefully,
Bishop of Manchester

What You Can Do

• Consider whether God might be calling you or someone you know to the priesthood or consecrated life.
• Pray for priests, consecrated religious, seminarians, and others discerning God’s call to ministry.
• Consider making a commitment to fund one year of the education of a seminarian.
• Send a note of encouragement to a seminarian.
• Encourage someone you know to consider the priesthood or consecrated life.
• Invite a priest, seminarian , or consecrated person to dinner and ask them about their vocation story.
• Attend the Seventh Trumpet Mass for priestly vocations.
• Include the Seminarian Education Fund in your estate planning .
• Go to www.liveinblackandwhite.com .

Prayer for Vocations

by Pope Benedict XVI
We acknowledge the great need to pray for vocations to the priesthood. It is not surprising that, where people pray fervently, vocations blossom. O Father, raise up among Christians abundant and holy vocations to the priesthood, who keep the faith alive and guard the blessed memory of your Son Jesus through the preaching of his word and the administration of the Sacraments, with which you continually renew your faithful. Grant us holy ministers of your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ for the redemption of the world. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Hear the word of God and do it. (Lk 8:21)
Please remember in your prayers these men studying for the priesthood. Your support of the Seminarian Education Fund – 2008 will support them in their seminarian training. You may write to them at the addresses listed below.

Seventh Trumpet Mass
The Seventh Trumpet Mass is an opportunity for the community to join in prayer for vocations to the priesthood. The Vocation Office has scheduled Seventh Trumpet Masses in locations around the state in 2008. These Masses bring people together to pray for vocations, support vocations and be inspired by vocations to the priesthood. See www.liveinblackandwhite.com for dates and locations.

Serra: Fostering Vocations
Serra of New Hampshire is one of over 300 Serra clubs in the United States. Serra’s work is to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life through prayer, education and collaboration with Bishop McCormack and the Office of Vocations. Volunteer members meet regularly for discussion and programs. More information is available at www.liveinblackandwhite.com .

Meet the 2008 Seminarians – Diocese of Manchester

Mr. Christopher M. Martel Nashua Immaculate Conception Mundelein Seminary "Live it; Love it; Be it... the Priesthood."	Mr. Matthew J. Mason Boscawen Sacred Heart St. John's Seminary "Called by Christ in theEucharist."	Mr. Jeffrey A. Pavegilio Chichester Immaculate Heart of Mary St. Mary Seminary "A priest asked me."	Mr. Charles H. Pawlowski Nashua St. Aloysius Gonzaga Seminary of Our Lady of Providence "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few."
Mr. Kyle P. Stanton Salem St. Joseph St. John's Seminary "Mary helped me hear God's call."	Mr. Alan C. Tremblay Manchester Ste. Marie St. Mary Seminary "Lord, let me know your will."	Mr. Matthew T. Vigneau Manchester Ste. Marie St. Mary Seminary "We all hear a call; in the end will you answer."	Mr. Jonathan E. White Manchester St. Joseph Cathedral Blessed John XXIII National Seminary "The Blessed Mother pointed the way."

We encourage you to send a note of encouragement to our seminarians.

Blessed John XXIII Seminary
558 South Avenue
Weston, MA 02493

Our Lady of Providence Seminary
485 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908

Mundelein Seminary
1000 East Maple Avenue
Mundelein, IL 60060

St. John’s Seminary
127 Lake Street
Brighton, MA 02135

St. Mary Seminary
5400 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210

A Community Working Together

Educating seminarians is an investment in the future of our Church.

Like any higher education experience, the cost to prepare men for the priesthood continues to rise.

• The average cost to educate one seminarian is over $100 a day for every day he is in formation. This cost includes tuition, room, board and fees at one of the seminaries.
• 100% of the collection for seminarians supports the education of men studying for the priesthood.
• The annual collection is the primary source of funding for seminarian education.
• A minimum gift of $50 to $100 from every adult or family attending Mass would help to pay for one day of tuition for our current seminarians.

Families and Parishes: Hope for Vocations

Priests and religious come from our parishes and from our own families. As a parish, we can pray for vocations and encourage men and women to listen to Christ’s call.

Parents play a crucial role in helping children to discern a vocation. Parents are often unaware and uncertain, however, about their influence in helping their children make any type of life commitment. The information below can help you foster an atmosphere where your son or daughter can talk about their thoughts on vocations.

• Make prayer a normal part of family decision-making, especially include a prayer for vocations as part of family meals.
• Talk positively and enthusiastically about the activities of priests, sisters and brothers. Speak with respect about priests and religious, especially when there are differences of opinion.
• Welcome priests and religious to visit in your home with you and your family.
• Talk with your children about what priests and religious do today.
• Think about your own feelings as a parent should one of your children want to talk about choosing a life in Church ministry.
• Tell young people about the gifts you see in them and why they would be effective ministers for God’s people.

Make a Contribution

A gift to the Seminarian Education Fund will be part of our community’s effort to support our seminarians. A special collection is scheduled for January 19 and 20 in parishes. You can use the envelope in the bulletin insert and return it to your parish or mail it directly to the Office for Vocations. Your parish will receive credit from your gift.

For more information, please contact Reverend Jason Y. Jalbert, Director of Vocations, at (603) 669-3100, Ext. 132 or jjalbert@RCBM.org .

Send checks made payable to RCBM to:
Office for Vocations
Diocese of Manchester
153 Ash Street - Box 310
Manchester, NH 03105-0310

On the check memo please note: Seminarian Fund
Don't forget to let us know your parish.