This past Sunday, Archbishop Sample celebrated a special Mass for Vocations at St. Alice Parish in Springfield to kick-off the 2025 Seminarian Appeal. The Archbishop’s presence expressed a clear sign of his care for the future of our Archdiocese, his care for the seminarians discerning their vocation, and his care for the people who will one day be blessed by their priesthood. I was assigned to St. Alice Parish this past summer and the opportunity to visit from the seminary felt like returning home. The parish holds so many memories and relationships for me, so to serve at the Mass for Vocations there made the day feel both deeply personal and communal. It was a gift to reunite and catch up with parishioners, as well as connect my St. Alice family with both the Archbishop and Fr. Peter Julia, our Director of Vocations.
It was especially moving that the Mass was celebrated in Spanish. Our Hispanic Catholic community is growing, and with it, the need for priests who can serve and shepherd in Spanish. The call for vocations is not just general, but personal and cultural. I humbly encourage young men; if you feel a call to the priesthood, you owe it to God to discern with His Church.
Archbishop Sample’s homily, drawn from Luke 16:1–13, challenged us to reflect honestly on who we truly serve. He reminded us that, “Those who are faithful in small things will also be faithful in greater ones.” That simple truth is a powerful guide for our spiritual life: the way we approach daily decisions, the little acts of faithfulness, and even the hidden sacrifices all prepare us for the larger callings God entrusts to us.
The breakfast afterwards was a continuation of the community’s joy. The line to greet the Archbishop was long, which in itself spoke volumes. People wanted to meet him, shake his hand, receive a blessing, and to feel seen by their shepherd.
Overall, the day was a celebration of God’s faithfulness and His invitation to us to be faithful in the small things, to nurture vocations to the priesthood, and to walk together as one family of faith. It was a reminder that vocations are not abstract. They are born, fostered, and sustained within the heart of the Church. Thank you for your prayers and support for my formation to serve as a parish priest.