We need to nurture religious vocations

May 23, 2014

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): The role of parents is crucial in nurturing priestly vocations and in praying for priests and religious in their work.

Rev Deacon Anthony Liew, said this in his homily during Mass on Vocation Sunday, on May 11 at St Michael’s Church.

The Mass was celebrated by SMC parish priest Fr Stephen Liew.

Rev Deacon Anthony said that even though the faith community had increased over the years, the number of religious, and priests especially, had dwindled so much so that priests now had to travel to other areas to cater to the needs of the Catholic communities.

“Today, for Mother’s Day and even for Father’s Day next month, we should think about our vocations. The vocations of mothers and fathers is to love.

“God gave us children as gifts, and parents are to nurture and help them to develop their potential in doing God’s will.

“Children are not investments for our future. Remember Mother Mary, our spiritual mother, who never stopped helping Jesus to do God’s will.

“How about our own future situation? Think. Do we have enough priests and religious now?

“If we do not do our part to help nurture religious vocations, then who else will?

"We should also pray for those who have been called, that they may have the courage to answer God’s call,” he said.

He then shared his own vocation story with parishioners. “One of the reasons I chose the priesthood was because God let me see another Christ in our priest, who is with us in our world.

“It is from our priests that we ask forgiveness and share everything because we see Christ in him. Hence we are reconciled and comforted.

“It is the priest we look to and rely on because he is the good shepherd.

“How many of us feel love from our priest? If we do not, then is it because we fail to recognize the love of God from the priest?

“If so, that may be why we fail to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life,” he said.

“When Jesus called Peter, he said he was not worthy as he was a sinner.”

“Jesus calls us not because we are righteous. As long as we try, no matter how imperfect we are, God will make it right,” he added.