Dear Friends –

The Annual Paulist Appeal takes place during this weekend’s masses.  We transfer our Parish and Paulist feast day, the Conversion of Paul from January 25^th to this day.  The readings for the day are from the feast day.

We welcome Father Mark-David Janus, CSP, the President of Paulist Press, who will preach at our masses and will invite your participation in the Appeal. 

Father Mark-David Janus, C.S.P., Ph.D., is the President and CEO of the Paulist Press, the publishing house affiliated with the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, otherwise known as the Paulist Fathers.  Father Janus was ordained a Paulist Priest in 1979 and has worked as a psychologist in private practice, teaching at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, and other universities. In 2003, he became director of the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., and in 2008 was appointed rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids before his appointment as the President of the Paulist Press.

The last installment of this column highlighting the history and importance of our Paulist mission looks to the future.

The Future of our Faith

The Paulist Fathers have always made educating and preparing men for the priesthood a top priority.  This past year, in May of 2012 three men were ordained here at the Mother Church of the Paulists, our parish, the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle.

But you need to be involved too.  Many of our seminarians have said that what prompted them to first consider a vocation was someone they knew – a friend, a family member, a fellow parishioner – asking them the question: “Have you ever considered the priesthood?”  We encourage you to ask the question of someone you think might make a dedicated and dynamic priest, and if you find that special person, ask him one more thing – ask him to speak with one of our Paulists to learn more.  Or, you can direct him to our website, http://paulist.org/vocation, where he can learn about our training program, and read individual stories from Paulists about how they discovered their calling. 

Another very important way you can help our future priests is through your financial support.  To train one man, for one year, costs over $50,000.  Your financial support is essential in helping us provide the education required to meet the challenges our future Paulist priests will face.

Thank you for your generosity and all of your support of the Paulist Fathers and our mission over the years.

Peace – Father Gil