Promoting vocations, work of many

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Jan. 10, 2008

Promoting vocations is a big job, so big that the new director of vocations for the Diocese of Sioux City believes that it can't possibly be done by one man alone.

Father Brad Pelzel, director of vocations, said he wants parishioners of the diocese to know that everyone can do their part to encourage vocations to the priesthood.

Despite talented priests who have served as the diocesan vocations directors in last 20 years, he said in the end there have not been enough new vocations to the priesthood. This trend has been seen in many other dioceses as well.

"We have to do something else or we are going to keep getting more of the same," said Father Pelzel. "When the bishop asked me to be the vocations director, I started looking at the dioceses that are having a lot of success. What are they doing differently?"

He referred to the Diocese of Arlington, Va. The vocations director said he recently saw an article which stated that every priest in that diocese is promoting vocations by talking to students about the positive aspects of the lifestyle. In addition, the diocese encourages Eucharistic adoration in parishes with the intention of vocations.

"They have created an atmosphere where kids, as they grow up, are asked if they have ever considered being a priest or sister," said Father Pelzel, who added that the students are encouraged to pray to God as they discern their futures.

Adding weight to this approach, he recently attended a Vocations Conference where he learned that research showed that the far majority of priests were encouraged to think about the priesthood because someone asked them to discern a lifestyle.

"With 80 percent of the priests, it was someone else who planted the seed," said Father Pelzel. "We need to foster an environment where everyone is promoting vocations."

Even though he attended a Catholic grade school and Catholic university, he mentioned that he was 22 years old before anyone suggested that he consider becoming a priest.

Father Pelzel is also a big believer in the benefits of Eucharistic adoration.

He remembered that back in the year 2000 when he was in the seminary, the seminarians were asked how many had felt the call of priesthood while they had been in Eucharistic adoration. Of the 200 seminarians, about 70 had felt the call during adoration.

Along with adoration, Father Pelzel would like to see all families pray for vocations in the home. When praying a rosary at home for vocations, he said parents could talk about how proud they would be if one of their children decided to become a priest or sister.

Unfortunately, he noted, parents are not always supportive of vocations because they fear it is too much of a life of sacrifice and loneliness. That's where the positive stories of priests and sisters make huge impacts.

When promoting vocations, he said they must try all options - Project Andrew, vocations Web site, priests visiting schools, parents talking to their children and encouraging them to become involved in Catholic activities, parishioners praying and more.

"On every level, from every possible angle we have to attack this problem and if we do, the vocations are out there," said Father Pelzel.

The encouragement is not a one-time task, either. He stressed persistence.

"There are so many distractions in our world that in order to cut through all of the distractions, you have to hit it more than once," he said. "A great example would be, how often do your kids clean up their room the first time you tell them."

In addition to promoting vocations in parishes, Catholic schools and families, Father Pelzel stressed that two organizations have done an outstanding job of promoting vocations - Knights of Columbus and Serra Club. The KCs fund seminarian gatherings, gatherings for recently ordained priests, provide scholarships and more.

There are two Serra Clubs in the diocese, one in Sioux City and another in Carroll. That group fosters new vocations and affirms present vocations.

"I would love to see a Serra Club in Fort Dodge, Spencer, Algona and other places," he said.

If people are looking for others ways to promote vocations they can check out the diocesan Web site - scdiocese.org and click on vocations.