The Bishops’ Committee on Vocations created this DVD as part of a larger program to actively invite men to consider a vocation to the priesthood. This program, entitled Priestly Life and Vocations Summit: Fishers of Men, is a presbyteral workshop which utilizes the appreciative inquiry method of asking priests about their most positive experiences in the priesthood.

To view the video, click “Play” below:

Fishers of Men from Serra Boston on Vimeo.

The USCCB has provided the following online resources for those who watch the video and want more information:

• USCCB Vocations & Priestly Formation
• Fishers of Men overview
• Testimonies
• Questions for discussion

By posting this film to the Internet, we hope to spread the word about Fishers of Men and brings its message to a larger audience.

Fr. Westcott is a Somerville native, and currently serves at St. Mary’s of the Nativity in Scituate. He was ordained in 2001, about 2 minutes after Fr. Dan Kennedy. As a result, Fr. Kennedy used to joke that he was the “more experienced priest.”

Fr. Westcott spoke of the “sacramental personality” of the priest: the idea that the priest’s personality acts as a bridge to Christ. The holy sacraments must be a cornerstone of the priest’s life, so that he can successfully preach the Gospel and bring others to Christ.

The priest’s personality can aid or detract from this purpose. The priest’s formation as a human being can help make him into a man that can lead others to Christ, but the priest must also love the Person of Jesus Christ and develop an authentic prayer life and sense of self-awareness. Sometimes the greatest aid to a priest’s personality can be the grace to “stay out of Christ’s way.” Fr. Westcott noted that he will sometimes pray “Don’t let me say anything harmful” and “Let me say what You want.”

Fr. Westcott gave a powerful example of speaking up for God by noting that in a homily before the presidential election, he preached on politics. Before the homily, he was anxious that he might alienate parishioners, but afterwards he received near universal thanks with only one negative response. The overwhelmingly positive response to the homily served as a reminder to Fr. Westcott that his own desires need to take second position to the needs of the people of Christ. As Fr. Westcott put it, “Nobody needs Matt Westcott, but people need Jesus Christ.”

Each priest must have a sense of purposeful self-sacrifice, and while a priest may act casually, at times he also has a responsibility to represent Christ to other people in a more solemn way. Fr. Westcott noted that some priests are like Bing Crosby in Going My Way, but the world also needs some “Barry Fitzgeralds” as well. Each priest is called to “become sacramental” by letting his personality point the way to Christ. Fr. Westcott was reminded of Fr. Dan Kennedy’s saying: “Keep Christ the Constant,” a reminder that priests come and go, but the Person of Christ remains eternal. As John the Baptist said of Christ in John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Prayer for priests is also essential. The Monthly Prayer for Priests calendar apostolate offers a great means for supporting priests, since people can recognize a priest’s name, pray for him in unison with hundreds of others on the same day, and perhaps even contact him to let him know of this support and prayer. Fr. Westcott ended by thanking the Serra Club of Boston for our efforts on behalf of priests, and stating that our great work as Serrans is recognized and deeply appreciated.

Loretta Gallagher noted that Fr. Westcott’s words called for a huge amount of maturity and deflation of ego on the part of a priest, and that parents could certainly identify with the need to subjugate oneself to the formation process of those for whom you were responsible.

Q & A

After his talk, we had a brief Q&A session. Questions and Fr. Matt’s answers are provided below.

How does the seminary foster a sense of self-sacrifice and subjugation of ego in future priests?

Fr. Westcott answered that if this attitude was not already there in some way, it would not be appropriate for the man to become a priest. The seminary is a formation of the inpidual, which must be based on genuine relationship, a sense of self-awareness, and certain relational skills. People have a right to good priests, not just a lot of priests. The seminary can, and should, help weed out those who may not be called to the priesthood, despite their desires. Fr. Westcott noted that when you enter the seminary, you either leave or stay — either way, the seminary has done its job.

Did being in the military help you become a priest?

The attitude of respecting and executing orders helped prepare Fr. Westcott to take on similar responsibilities as a priest. All priests take a vow of respect and obedience to their bishop, and ‘Matt Westcott’s opinions’ are not required for the needs of the diocese. Priests are called to put themselves second, and their vows first.

When did you feel mature enough to decide to be a priest?

Life experiences helped in Fr. Westcott’s decision, such as a strong “1950′s Catholic upbringing” in 1980′s Somerville. As a child, he had known priests whose lives pointed to a life of significance, meaning, and adventure. At 26 he chose to enter the seminary and “give it a year.” In the middle of his third year, Fr. Westcott decided definitively that “it was for me.”

Fr. Westcott also received support, encouragement, and sound advice during his discernment process. He and Fr. Dan Kennedy “got each other through the seminary,” and other solid priests, such as Fr. Bill Murphy, provided support. When Fr. Westcott told another priest that he felt unworthy of the priesthood, the other priest responded: “Nobody is worthy.” Only Jesus Christ is a true Priest, and He condescends to allow His “adopted brothers” to join Him in His priestly ministry.

If a man is denied ordination to the priesthood, is he told why he was denied?

Seminarians are reviewed every year, and the reviews get more stringent as time goes on. Each man is worked with long before he is denied. Ultimately no one has a “right” to be ordained to the priesthood; the decision lies with the bishop, who speaks with more than mortal authority.

Is there low morale in the seminary?

The seminary can sometimes seem like a cocoon, since seminarians live, recreate, and take classes there without often leaving the grounds. Seminarians must ask themselves if they are “too comfortable in the cocoon,” and they are encouraged to get out of the building once a day and get off campus once a week.

The seminarian’s natural response to life at the seminary can also help him discern if he should be a diocesan priest (and serve the people of Christ in a diocese) or an order priest (and serve Christ within a communal lifestyle on a more global scale).

What is the greatest joy you have being a priest?

Celebrating Mass. Baptisms in particular offer a special joy, since they offer something “so pure” as bringing a new life into the Church.

What are the biggest challenges of being a priest?

Priests can experience a sense of pressure — not burnout, but more a sense that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. Priests can also sometimes feel isolated, especially when they have to make an unpopular decision. Fr. Westcott noted that it can be helpful to pray that priests feel connected to other priests and to the Lord.

One of the greatest challenges of being a priest is that it sometimes seems like nothing is happening — that the priest’s efforts to preach and do well are having no effect. Fr. Westcott noted that the priest can only plant seeds which will others may tend and see grow, and that priests may not always be able to see the fruit of their labor.

The Serra Club of Boston thanks Fr. Matt Westcott for attending our November meeting, and for presenting such a unique and joyful look into the sacramental nature of priestly life. It is obvious our archdiocese has been blessed with his vocation to the priesthood.

Mr. Kennedy noted that his son exuded love for people and the Lord, a trait which resonated with people.  Fr. Kennedy was an example of how the Lord can take the weak and make them strong.  He was a timid boy who had to battle with his 3 sisters for individuality, but the Lord made him into a strong priest.  He took every opportunity he could to speak out and project joy in serving the Lord, and especially loved holding babies while celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism.

Fr. Kennedy was not perfect, and could sometimes show a temper befitting his red hair.  His father recalled seeing a young man kneeling at Eucharistic Adoration, and telling Fr. Kennedy about it afterward.  Fr. Kennedy asked his father if he had asked the young man about a possible vocation to the priesthood, and when his father said he’d remained silent, he asked “What’s wrong with you?!?” and pointed out that it was everyone’s vocation to seek vocations.

Another funny anecdote showing Fr. Kennedy’s humanity came when he wrote his thank-you cards after his ordination.  He took his time to hand-write a personal message in each card, and chose to wait until they were all complete before mailing them out.  This prevented any one person from receiving a card too early, but it also meant that the cards didn’t go out till after Thanksgiving.  A friend of the family later told Mr. Kennedy that Dan had written a very nice thank-you message, though he doubted they’d be able to play golf in the summer as indicated in the letter.

When in high school, Fr. Dan served as the Silver Knight mascot for the Catholic Memorial High School team.  For one game versus Boston College High School, he asked his father if he could have $70 to rent an eagle costume.  When asked why, he said that he wanted to stage a halftime show with the Knight and the “BC Eagle,” in which the Knight would knock down and stab the eagle.  When the game came, BC High brought their own eagle, prompting a heated discussion between the real eagle and the impostor hired by Fr. Dan.  Fr. Dan walked over to the real BC Eagle dressed in full Silver Knight costume and joined the discussion, and the real Eagle challenged the Silver Knight by knocking off his silver helmet.

Mr. Kennedy did not see the fracas that ensued, but heard afterward that fans were very impressed by the realism of the halftime fracas between the CM Silver Knight and the BC Eagle.  One friend of the family noted that it was so real, that it looked like the BC Eagle was actually bleeding after the Silver Knight had pounded the daylights out of him.

Mr. Kennedy shared several other anecdotes about Fr. Kennedy’s “human side,” but stressed that Fr. Kennedy simply loved being a priest.  During his last day on earth, Fr. Dan had an appointment in Fairfield in which he’d promised to baptize a baby.  It was also his last day at Winthrop, so the parishioners who had come to know and love him wanted to say goodbye, and had decorated the church with signs and banners that said “Goodbye Father Dan.”  Fr. Kennedy finished the baptism and stopped at his brother’s house on the way back to his parish.  He told his family how good his last day in Winthrop was, and said “I love being a priest” before collapsing on the floor.  Later, at the wake, the father of the baby he baptized approach Mr. Kennedy and told him that Fr. Kennedy had held the baby during his last spiritual act on the day he died.

Mr. Kennedy noted that he thanked the Lord for ordaining his son to the priesthood, and taking Fr. Kennedy back to Him.  Mr. Kennedy continually prays that the Lord send more priests to the Archdiocese.

For more information on Fr. Dan Kennedy’s life and legacy, you can visit the following links:

• Boston Pilot: “Meet our seminarians” Q&A with Fr. Dan
• Fr. Dan Kennedy web site (set up by his family)
• Fr. Peter-Michael Preble
• Find-a-grave entry for Fr. Dan

There are also video tributes to Fr. Kennedy available online:

• Father Daniel J Kennedy:(4:04)
• In Loving Memory of Father Daniel Kennedy:(5:35)
• Good and faithful Servant:(8:42)
• Additional Memorial videos at St. Mary’s

Upcoming events

During the meeting, our chaplain Fr. Dan Hennessey reminded us of the following upcoming events in the Archdiocese.

• On Friday October 3, the seminarians from Boston, Providence, and Philadelphia will be meeting with Cardinal Sean.  Serrans are asked to keep these seminarians in prayer.
• The Altar Server Appreciation Mass will be held on Saturday, October 4 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.  Altar servers and their family and friends will attend the 11am Mass, followed by a “make your own sundae” event.  Volunteers are needed for scooping, setup, and possible ice cream sundae consumption.  To volunteer, please e-mail or call Fr. Dan Hennessey.

Other news

• The September 12th issue of the Pilot had an article on Priesthood Sunday.  Since then the Pilot has received several requests for ads supporting priests, as well as inquiries on this upcoming event.  As a reminder, Priesthood Sunday will be held on October 26.
• Serrans who can’t come to the monthly meetings can still offer prayer for vocations.  As Mr. Kennedy stressed during his talk, prayers can greatly help priests in their vocations.

Our next meeting is Saturday, October 18th in St. Mary’s Parish in Waltham.  We hope to see you there!

When Chase Hilgenbrinck bounced from Chile to Colorado to New England this spring, his eyes were already on another path. Not toward another MLS club or Europe. Toward the priesthood.

MLS fans might have been startled to read the New England Revolution’s announcement this week that the defender was ending his career in midseason to enter a seminary at Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland, but the decision wasn’t abrupt

Full article at USA Today: MLS player Hilgenbrinck has a new goal: priesthood

The USA Today blog offers Chase’s commentary on his calling:

Why?
Because I feel called. I’ve actually had my calling. I’ve been discerning this decision for several years now. I had a chance to go play professional soccer in Chile. For a long time, I felt called to something greater, and I didn’t know what it was. I thought maybe it was professional soccer. In playing soccer, I realized that wasn’t it. I continued searching.

Full blog at: From soccer to seminary

When first I began to seriously consider the priesthood, it seemed a nebulous and distant reality. I thought God was calling me to a priestly vocation and I wanted to pursue it, but I really had no idea who the priest is or what he does. I attended Mass regularly and Mass I understood. I could even see myself acting as a sacramental minister but I could not grasp what it would mean, for me, to actually be a priest the other twenty-three and a half hours of the day.

Fr. Barr comments on the difference that attitude can make in a priest, reinforcing the need to support priests in their chosen vocations:

…a joyful priest is a better encourager of vocations than one who is very experienced, very skilled and able but angry or dour. It is not how good we are at our “job” that makes the priest a better priest, but how much we love. How much he loves, loves the people of God with Christ’s own pierced and Sacred Heart, the heart he receives in ordination, this is the measure of a priest. And this is not a distant or nebulous thing, but a real and good life, a life that ought to be pursued by all who are called, something that is concrete and doable.

The full essay is available on Cardinal Sean’s blog entry: ‘Quis Alter Christus Es’ (scroll about 1/5 down the page).

Thanks to Fr. Barr for sharing his experience and insight into the priesthood, and to Cardinal Sean for sharing his blog with the new ordinandi.

…The grace of God flowed freely and abundantly on everyone there, not just those becoming priests. I could see it so clearly on their faces. Looking at all the people I thought to myself “This is your ordination, too. It’s the prayers and support of good people like you that helped me to walk up these steps to be ordained and it’s for all of you that I’m walking down.” I couldn’t have been more grateful to them, to you, and especially to Almighty God. I could not have done it alone.

I think one of the most moving parts of the ceremony was the Laying on of Hands. This is really the most solemn moment of the Rite of Ordination. The bishop ordains each man by placing his hands on their head and invoking the Holy Spirit on the new priest.

I can’t imagine a more profound, exhilarating and humbling experience than this, that moment when Cardinal Sean placed his hands on my head. I’ve never known such joy, truly.

More at Cardinal Sean’s blog: Reflections of a newly ordained priest

Thanks to Fr. Mazzone for sharing his personal experiences with the Internet.