Realizing that young people do not often receive a lot of encouragement when considering a vocation to the priesthood, in my talk I tried to assure them that many people from the community are praying for them and that their interior life, their participation in the community of faith and fidelity to spiritual direction and prayer are all important elements in the process of discernment. I encouraged those who are so inclined, to visit the seminary, which has an excellent menu for deepening one's relationship with the Lord and discovering what God's will is in our life. This, of course, needs to be the focus of any vocational discernment. We must discern not what we want to do, but what God is asking us to do.
I also always try to encourage the men, in their interior life, to discover God's love for us. That love is what gives us the courage to do difficult things and make difficult decisions -- knowing that, despite our limitations, our weaknesses and our human frailty, God is there for us. I tell them that this should be a source of strength and motivation in making a vocational decision.
On the last day of the retreat for St. John's Seminary, we take the participants for the closing Mass at the seminary and they receive a tour.
This has always been important source of vocations in the archdiocese and we are very grateful to all the pastors and others who sent men on the retreat, as well as to all those are praying for an increase of vocations in the archdiocese.
Journey to the Vatican
Yesterday (2/16) I arrived in Rome, for a meeting of cardinals with the Holy Father that took place earlier today, in which we discussed the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith. Also, as many of you know, tomorrow will be the consistory for the creation of new cardinals, followed by the Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday. There are two Americans, of course, in the group: Cardinal-elect Timothy Dolan and Cardinal-elect Edwin O'Brien. They are each well-known both here in United States and internationally, and they will certainly strengthen the College of Cardinals. We congratulate them and I look forward to relating the details of my trip to you upon my return.