Recent years have presented great challenges

"to the Church and her clergy. In the midst of these challenging times the church more than ever needs good and holy priests, men who seek to be Jesus' representatives to the people and to help them to grow in holiness. Priesthood is God's gift to the church, it is not of our own making, the call is first and foremost from our Lord.

"The call to priesthood and religious life is a call to service. Many people today lack a spiritual foundation in their lives; they have become disconnected from the worshipping community, from the church. It is our task as priests and religious to help others to reconnect with the Lord and to include faith as an organizing principle in their lives."
From a letter by Archbishop Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap
on the Priesthood Vocation site for the Archdiocese of Boston
www.bostonpriesthood.org