Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Continued Easter blessings to all of you! We thank God as well for the warm spring weather and life-giving rains for the crops in northwest Iowa.
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. The Gospel reading for today relates how the Risen Lord appears to his disciples with instructions to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” They were sent to evangelize and baptize.
We are all called to evangelize, to share the same good news that the apostles and so many other believers have shared throughout the centuries. Our priests lead and guide us in our call to be evangelizers. Please keep them in your prayers and pray that more men will respond to a priestly vocation when the Lord calls.
The Holy Father offered a message for the faithful last Sunday on April 21 for World Day of Prayer for Vocations. He explained that we all need to be open to listening to the Lord to discover our own vocations “for the building up of his kingdom,” whether that be in marriage, single life, consecrated life or the priesthood.
On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, parishes and individuals offered prayers for building up the kingdom through vocations. Let us pray every day for more vocations to the priesthood.
Recently, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV) released The Class of 2024: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood.
The survey data provides a glimpse of the 475 men who will receive the laying on of hands by their bishops at their ordinations in a few weeks:
“The data shows that families continue to be the seedbed of religious vocations,” from the USCCB press statement. “Ninety-five percent were raised by their biological parents, and 88% were raised by a married couple who lived together.”
“This year’s study of ordinands underscores the fundamental role that families, in particularly, parents, play in building up the kingdom of God. It is through the love and support of the family that children develop into the men and women God calls them to be,” noted Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing and chair of the CCLV Committee.
We heard a similar theme at our 2024 diocesan synod listening sessions that vocations come from families. I have often shared that my grandmother consistently encouraged me to become a priest. She definitely had an influence on my vocation. Parents, grandparents and family members should not underestimate the influence they have through their own prayer and encouragement of vocations.
We currently have eight faithful young men in the seminary for our diocese, supported by family and friends. The seminarians often express their appreciation of the prayers for them from parishioners in our Diocese of Sioux City.
I will have the honor of ordaining Jacob Rosenmeyer of Divine Mercy Parish in Algona as a transitional deacon June 1 – the next step in his journey to priestly ordination in 2025. Please keep Jake in your prayers as he prepares for this ordination.
I want to congratulate and thank the 17 priests of our diocese celebrating their 50, 60 and 60-plus year anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood this year. Join me in thanking God for their faithful service as priests of Jesus Christ. I count on your prayers for me as well.
“Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Lk 10:2
Your brother in Christ,
Bishop Walker Nickless
Diocese of Sioux City