“The main priest in this video was mentored by Cardinal Dolan and studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome when Cardinal Dolan was the rector. Note: The video starts with a black screen and 14 seconds of sound only. “Celebrating God’s Call” was created on August 3rd, 2012 by Dr. Michelle T. Valella to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of ordination of Fr. John D. Fleckenstein, Pastor of St. Philip Roman Catholic Church in Battle Creek, MI. It is a 5 minute video highlighting the call to religious life for men and women and how beautiful and wonderful it can be to say “yes”. The commentaries are excerpts of a homily given by Fr. John Fleckenstein in June of 2008.” -Dr. Valella, Battle Creek, MI *Click “this video” to go to the video presentation.
Ricky Encourages Fr. Davis Chackaleckel!
Father Davis has touched me in ways that I never could have thought possible. When my wife and I was looking for a church Father Dav! is brung a presence of GOD into our life that we had been looking for. I have been off my path for over 10 years and did not know what to believe anymore. Thank GOD for Father Davis, I know I am on the right path to GOD because of him. Every single mass I feel the Holly Spirit come into the room as Father Davis blesses the bread and wine during the Eucharist. That is one of the stunning and awesome feelings I have experienced. Please, everyone pray that he will continue to touch peoples lives as he did mine.
-Ricky, Columbia, TN
Madelyn Encourages Fr. James Downs!
Thank you for being my spiritual leader for many many years. I want to apologise to you for being a person that has brought you so many burdens. The truth is you have touched so many lives in the city of new castle. You are recognized for your acceptence! of everyone for who they are, and though your homilies the spirit comes alive in those that hear them.
-Madelyn, New Castle, PA
Frank Encourages Fr. Bill O’Malley!
A quick word of thanks for your wonderful, dedicated service to all of us at St. A’s. Your gentleness, humor, and encouragement help us to grow in Christ’s love!
- Frank, Bergenfield, NJ
Frank Encourages Fr. Dan O’Neill, O’Carm.!
Just want to express my gratitude for your generous sharing of faith, your honesty, your tireless dedication to God and to God’s people.
- Frank, Bergenfield, NJ
Dean Encourages Fr. John Beveridge!
I have been lost for a while and struggling with my faith, which church, spiritual hunger that I had that was not being fulfilled, etc. I stopped by the SSPP church one Friday evening and Father John happened to be! there. He is not usually there at that particular time. He was/is extremely kind and you can tell he is filled with the Holy Spirit and truly loves what he does. He gave me words of encouragement and direction and armed me with two books to start me off. He has already helped me more than he can know. May God Bless you for opening my eyes and the eyes of all who come to you for your help. And may God Bless the staff and volunteers at SSPP for their love and direction and helping me as I continue my journey towards becoming a catholic. I have felt welcomed by you all every day I have been in church. I thank God for you all.
- Dean, Maryville, IL
Rose Encourages Rev. Jean Hughes Desir!
I really an not good at expressing my feelings but I would like to say there is something unbelievablly special about Father Jean, just looking at his smiling face you can feel the presence of God and feel the love in his heart. I feel closer to God everytime I celebrate mass with him. I truly love him. He is the example of true love for God and love for all. I feel so blessed for him to come into my life. The light of Christ radiates from him. I love him very much!
- Rose, Davenport, FL
Randy Encourages his son, Fr. Jason Brooks LC!
Our son, Fr. Jason Brooks LC, is blessed with a beautiful vocation to the priesthood. That call came from God, we saw that, and only God can bestow that blessing. We were blessed to have the faith and grace to encourage that vocation. We continue to pray daily for Fr. Jason and all priests so that they are good, holy, and strong priests every day of their lives. We all need to be prayer warriors for our priests. Our priests need to devote time to daily prayer, including the daily rosary. Mother Mary is the Queen of the rosary and she can be the protector for all priests, we just need to pray and ask her for that intercession. God bless all our priests and please give us more vocations and holy seminaries.
- Randy, Hamden, CT
It’s a Great Time to Be a Priest
Check out Fr. Robert Barron’s excellent article on the joy of being a priest over his 25-year priesthood. He gives beautiful encouragement to the seminarians and priests today, who are serving during a trying time in the American church.
“…And this is why I would like to say to seminarians and to young priests just starting out: this is your time and it’s a good time. I’m not engaging in wishful thinking here or whistling in the dark. I’m reminding them that this time of crisis—and it is the worst crisis in the history of the American church—should call forth their greatest creativity, energy, imagination, and evangelical enthusiasm. They should revel in the fact that they’ve been chosen by God, precisely at this moment, to be part of the solution.”
Read more here!
Michael Encourages Rev. Russell Roetzer!
“I would like to thank Russell Roetzer for his life of service to young people in the Performing Arts, especially those from St Catherine’s High School. The patience that he showed to budding, and not-so-budding talents was profound and enabled those of us in the Theater to find our way onto the boards without stumbling. My childhood and high school friends Jim K. and David B. and my high school friends Keith M. and Steven E. are amoung the many others I can remember being part of the Musical Theater community at SCHS in the mid-70′s. I write this on Valentine’s Day, 2011, and so a Big Red Heart Shoutout goes to Fr. Russ, the “organist with chubby fingers”, as he once described himself, for all his guidance and direction, (literally!)”
~ Michael, Madison, WI