DETROIT — In a time with ever more confusion on a social, political and spiritual level, one thing has remained constant for centuries: the Catholic Church.

As long as there have been believers who have gathered around the Eucharist, there have been Catholics whose vocations to the priesthood, religious life, married state and various single vocations have enriched the life of their communities at home and abroad.

In recent times, however, while God continues to call men and women to the priesthood and religious life, fewer have chosen to answer that call. And while Catholics should pray for an increase to all vocations, priests are needed in the Church now perhaps more than ever.

In response, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recognizes that need by setting aside the first full week in November each year as National Vocations Awareness Week, a time for Catholics across the country to stop and pray for an increase to all vocations, but especially those to the priesthood.

For The Michigan Catholic, this means publishing our annual Vocations special issue, in which we urge our readers to pray by name for those studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Currently, there are 34 local men discerning a vocation as an archdiocesan priest, including five who are on track to be ordained this coming spring.

We ask you to join us in offering special intentions for the following men:

• Deacon John Bettin (St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Lake Orion)


• Deacon Andrew Dawson (Guardian Angels Parish, Clawson)


• Deacon Grayson Heenan (St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms)*


• Deacon Matthew Hood (St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Lake Orion)


• Deacon Craig Marion (St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Madison Heights)


• Michael Adams (St. Faustina Parish, Warren)


• James Bird (Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth)


• David Brish (Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth)


• Rob Buzaitis (Holy Family Parish, Novi)


• John Carlin (National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak)


• Zaid Chabaan (National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak)


• Theodore Devine (St. Owen Parish, Bloomfield Hills)


• Timothy DuBois (St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Dearborn)*


• Ryan Eggenberger (Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth)


• Colin Fricke (Assumption Grotto Parish, Detroit)


• Charles Giroux (SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights)


• Louis Hackstock (Holy Family Parish, Memphis)


• Francisco Herrera (Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Detroit)


• James Houbeck (St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Fraser)


• Joshua Kenny (Holy Trinity Parish, Port Huron)


• Mark Livingston (St. Pius X Parish, Southgate)


• Andrew Mabee (Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Plymouth)


• Daniel Magareno (Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Detroit)


• John Maksym (St. Ambrose Parish, Grosse Pointe Park)**


• Bro. Jahaunn McKenzie (St. Louise de Marillac Parish, Warren)


• Thomas Merlo (St. Mary of the Hills Parish, Rochester Hills)


• Stephen Moening (St. Kenneth Parish, Plymouth)


• Christopher Muer (St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Grosse Pointe Park)


• Adam Nowak (St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview)


• David Pellican (Assumption Grotto Parish, Detroit)


• Derik Peterman (St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Parish, Westland)


• Edwin Sibrian (Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish, Detroit)


• Mark Tibai (Divine Grace Parish, Carleton)


• Emiljan Ukaj (St. Paul Albanian Parish, Rochester Hills)

 

*Studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome

**Studying at St. John XXIII Seminary in Boston

All others are studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit