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During this period of The Apostle's Fast (May 27 to June 28), we remember the importance of fasting, prayers, and almsgiving after the festive paschal season and as we look to increased relaxation and refreshment during the summer months. We are also encouraged to reflect on the teachings and work of Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who were instrumental in spreading the gospel to different parts of the world.
A vocation to ordained service in the Church is a gift from God. Following are several of the God-inspired signs of a ministerial vocation:
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Spirit of humility – This enables one to deny himself and to be sacrificial in his outlook and attitude toward clerical ministry. Humility enables one to submit to the necessary formation. Humility is the basis of courageous leadership and integrity.
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Spirit of sacrifice – This enables one to give up lesser, seemingly appealing temporal goods and earthly cares for greater eternal ones; this gift is often manifested as patience and endurance.
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Spirit of detachment – This enables a person to be in this world yet not of this world.
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Spirit of zeal – This special form of charity draws a person to serve God and humanity in an intense and sacrificial manner; it brings about a committed interest in people and their welfare. An ordained minister needs to be sociable but not necessarily an extravert.
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Spirit of hospitality – This is an extremely important quality in a Christian leader. In the Greek language, to be "hospitable" means to be "a lover of strangers," a common theme stressed in Scripture. Such a welcoming spirit tests one’s ability to find a neighbor and friend in one’s peers.
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Ardent desire to serve the Church – this may be long-standing or recently experienced, but it must be firm and perceived as lifelong.
If you perceive a call to ordained ministry in the Byzantine Catholic Church or if you simply have further questions regarding the ordained life, prerequisites, formation, or finances, feel free to contact the Eparchial Vocations Director: Rev. John R.P. Russell at [email protected].
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