Today I attended a Catholic Youth Conference in my diocese. It was a great day for the youth I think. It started with mass, by Fr. Patrick, he is the most reverent person, he said the most the reverent mass that I have ever attended! Honest to God! You could tell of his love for the liturgy and his love for our eucharistic Lord.

After the conference began with a keynote address by Mike Patin from Louisianna. After we had a break out session, where I went to the "Dude Where's my Car! Answering God's call in life" It was run by one of my transiitional Deacon friends, and another seminarian with whom I'm close. After that we had a meal (consisting of pizza) I hung out with Deacon and he was introducing me to people, as "Prosepctive Seminarian for the Diocese" At one break out session I was asked to sahre my vocation story.

I then did an interview with the local Catholic Radio station; I spoke of my vocation, and how I was open to God's calling and How I knew it. I basically focused upon Bishop Zubik and how he has been so influential in my life and it is thorugh Him; God's instrument that I heard my calling.

After lunch we had another break out session, and then Eucharistic Adoration. Since I am hired by parishes to conduct Server training sessions, everybody knows I serve, so I served for Eucharistic Adoration and the procession.

It wa an awesome conference, I'm sure the 250 youth in attendance did learn something, and if they didn't it is there own fault. I'm glad we encouraged their devotion to the eucharist, we gave em' free rosaries, and free patron saint medals! We're instilling the faith in the young! It is my prayers that this faith can last thorughout their life.

The key note speaker spoke about how people don't have time for God, that for some a relationship with God doesn't come until your older because you don't have time for God now. He invited us to make God apart of our everyday lives, and to always attend the mass.

It was a great day and I was blessed to be there!

Yours in Christ,

Eddy Lee

It sounds like you had a WONDERFUL day! God blessed you indeed! Are you certain of your desire to be a diocesan priest? Or are you considering religious orders as well? Or. . .?

Were you nervous to be on the radio, speaking of your vocation?

Thanks for sharing! Have a great week.

Your sister in Christ,
Denise

That does sound like a great day. Well you got another person to pray for you vocation, you will be in my prayers. As a seminarian for diocesan priesthood, we can always use a few good men.
God Bless

I think I am called to the diocesean priesthood; I really couldn't see myself saying mass anywhere else but in a parish. Fr. Pat really inspired me today, and I think I might ask him to be my spiritual driector.

If I was to enter an order I would seriously consider the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and the Legion of Christ, but I think i am called to be within my diocese. Parishes have parish directors now ebcause there are not enough priests, I see the elderly priests and it tells me we need young priests to take their spots. Our diocese has more vocaitons now than it has ever had, praise be Jesus!

Pray for me, as I pray which priest to ask to be my spritual director.

Yours in Christ,

Eddy Lee

Of course you are in my prayers! I have two special 'apostolates'. One is to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life (that they not only increase, but those who are called to these vocations remain holy and faithful to their call). . . .(the other is to pray for the Poor Souls).

Your servant in Christ,

Denise

Maybe you'd like to add praying for our priests, check out this apostolate by viewing: http://prayforpriests.blogspot.com

Thank you. What a great site for prayer! I looked at it briefly and have bookmarked it for more intense viewing in the morning when my eyes are fresh.

God reward you.

sounds like an exciting day! I am so glad you had an opportunity to serve at the altar with such holy priests!

I am glad you are able to see this at such a young age. It inspires me.

I kind of see the same thing in Catholic High Schools...

Namely that the faculties no longer consist of professed religious priests or brothers. There are a bunch of old, nearly retired. As well as little to do with faithful to Catholic teaching, especially here in California. And Catholic High Schools need young religious priests to connect with the students on a spiritual level that lay teachers and old priests just cannot do. There are exceptions though, our two sixty year olds on the school faculty (which people mistake for fifty year olds), have a lot of vigor.

SHALOM