A friend of mine began discerning priesthood soon after his First Communion. From the age of eight, he dreamed of the day when he could be a priest and celebrate Mass. This was not me. I did not consider a vocation to the priesthood until the end of my junior year in high school. I had been asked by the pastor of my parish if I had ever thought about being a priest. My response? A resounding “no.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A long-treasured value of our Church, dating back to its earliest days, has been the care for those who are most vulnerable. As Catholics we are called to love one another and accompany one another in moments of blessing and in moments of challenge. When facing any difficulty, we quickly discover our dependency, not only upon God, but upon each other in the exercise of charity and concern for our neighbor.