By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Young people learn about vocations

OSCEOLA -- On June 16 a number of seeds were planted at St. Joseph Church in Osceola. The planting was not done in the soil, but in the 40 young minds of participants in the diocesan sponsored Quo Vadis retreat. Organizers hope that from these seeds no ordinary fruit or flower will be cultivated, but a variety of vocations will bloom in the Diocese of Superior.

Fr. Andrew Ricci, diocesan vocation director and pastor of the Sarona, Spooner and Shell Lake cluster, said some seeds have already taken. There are men who have attended past Quo Vadis days who are in seminary formation now.

Ricci said the day is a chance to introduce the idea of vocations to those in the sixth through eighth grades. "Obviously, kids in middle school are not ready to make life choices depending on their vocations," Ricci said. "The purpose of this day is to introduce young girls and boys to people who are living the life or are actively discerning a life in ministry."

Ricci, who has been a priest since 1997, was in the seminary at the time this annual event was begun by former vocations director, Fr. Kevin Gordon, well over 10 years ago. "It would be a good thing if a young person is contemplating a vocation," Ricci said.

Besides discussing the priesthood and religious vocations, married and single vocations were also included. "All of them are a legitimate ways to be holy, legitimate ways to be a Christian and legitimate ways to follow God," Ricci said.

The day began with a call to holiness for those in attendance and ended with Mass. In between these prayerful times and vocation insight activities, there was also time for a lot of fun and games. Dressed in shorts and a specially designed Quo Vadis T-shirt, Ricci said his "sin fighter suit," or Roman collar, was hanging in the nearby sacristy.

As vocation director, Ricci said, he encourages the men and women serving in the various vocations to be visible witnesses to young people. Vocation seeds are often planted when there is a link made. "If people have a real solid relationship with a priest, brother, deacon or sister, then those vocations start to come," Ricci said.

Aaron Kalmon, who has completed his second year of seminary studies, assisted at the day. Kalmon said he was fortunate to have attended Catholic school in Medford as a member of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish. That had early influence on him. "The priestly witness that Fr. Dennis Meulemans, who was pastor in Medford for so long, was amazing for me," Kalmon said. "I know I would have never been interested in the priesthood if weren't for him."

After he finished high school, Kalmon studied physics and math in college and did carpentry, "before it even occurred to me to try out the priesthood and it's been a real blessing," he said.

Kalmon informed the boys that most of the focus during high school seminary studies is on academics. "But in college seminary, guys are seriously thinking about becoming priests," he said.

Deacon Andy Anderson, who is one step away from becoming a priest, said that discernment isn't about what a person wants to do,"but what God wants you to do," he said.

Although Kurt Green, of St. Joseph Parish in Osceola, liked playing the games, he was also interested in the vocation presentations. Green said he has thought about becoming a priest. "The thought comes up once in a while," he said.

Rachel White, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake, said she has thought about becoming a sister. White, who will be a sixth grader at her parish school next fall, admires her principal, Sr. Claudine Balio. "I like her faith, she has such strong faith," White said. "She is a good role model for me."

Fr. Thomas Thompson, host pastor, said Quo Vadis was a chance for young people to have fun and interact with the priests, sisters and deacons. "It shows them that priesthood and religious life is an option," Thompson said. "They can also see that we like to have fun, too."

Thompson served in the military before answering the call to the priesthood at the age of 30. He said the day gives youth an opportunity to see priests in a different light. "It gives kids a chance to meet us and see us for real," he said, "instead of just dressed in black or dressed in vestments, at the altar."

Sr. Bonnie Alho, vocation director for the Servants of Mary in Ladysmith and pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake, has been a part of the event since its start. "The key is to give youngsters a chance to think about the possibility of a vocation," Alho said.

Alho was a junior in high school when she began her religious vocation, but admitted that women aren't "beating down the bushes" to enter today. "I am working with a young woman who is 27," she said. "Most of the people that are coming to religious orders today are older."

Sr. Jovita Winkel, CSJ, asked the girls in attendance what they thought women religious did. Their answers included: pray, teach, nurse and help others. "Your mom and aunt can do all these," Winkel said. "The difference is that sisters take vows."

The day also served as an educational tool for adults. Anne Stephens, a religious educator at St. Joseph Parish in Barron, said she attended the day to update herself on vocations. "I wanted to see what was happening, so when kids ask me what the day was about I can give them an opinion," Stephens said. "It's a good learning experience for us all. I came to see what options there were for the kids."

Ken Maciejewski, an admissions counselor from St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mt. Calvary, Wis., was in attendance to give boys one option in discerning their vocation. "We ask young men to discern for four years with guys that they never dreamed of even having contact with," Maciejewski said. "We have students from eight foreign countries and 13 states, within the United States. Initially, they come in scared, they don't know what to expect, but at least they are opening up and allowing the spirit to work within them."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004