On Good Shepherd Sunday, the first Called By Name campaign will launch in the Diocese of Tyler. At weekend Masses on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, priests have been invited to share their own vocation stories, giving the faithful insight into the joys and graces of the priesthood. They will then invite parishioners to submit the names and contact information of young men and teens in their community who they believe are open to learning more about the priesthood.
To be nominated, a young man does not need to have expressed a desire to become a priest but should exemplify dedication to his faith, a heart for service and the potential to be a leader in the Church.
“When we nominate a young man, we aren’t telling him he’s going to be a priest; rather, we’re recognizing that he possesses the heart and character of someone who could be called to the priesthood,” explained Fr. Steven Chabarria, Associate Vocations Director for the Diocese of Tyler. “Our goal is to encourage an open discernment of God’s will, whether that leads to the priesthood, a holy marriage, or service as a layman in the Church.”
Nominated men will receive a letter of encouragement from Bishop Kelly inviting them to be open to God’s plan for their lives. From there, Father Chabarria has a plan to continue supporting these young men as they begin or continue discernment.
With the help of a team of priests strategically located throughout the diocese, the Diocese of Tyler will help support young men and teens in their vocational discernment. These team members will lead small discernment groups, helping young men learn more about the priesthood and the principles of discernment, while fostering community between men learning more about the priesthood.
Father Chabarria and his team are also planning various engaging and spiritually enriching events for in the coming academic year. The events will range from focused retreats to more casual social opportunities for young men to interact with priests, ask questions, and connect with peers who are also open to a vocation. Those nominated for Called By Name will be invited personally to these events in the coming months.
Additionally, the Vocation Office will be launching a new website offering helpful resources and reading materials to discerners, parents, and schools. On the website, young men can subscribe to the “Art of Discernment,” a weekly message from Father Chabarria that provides discernment-focused reflections.
“We trust that God is calling many men from the Diocese of Tyler to serve him as his priests,” Father Chabarria said. With this in mind, he and his team hope that the Called By Name campaign will result in the nominations of many young men. God is always the one who calls, but he often uses the voices of his people to bring about his message.
Nominating a young man in Called By Name is a great way to put him on a path towards greater peace and clarity about his vocation. If you know a young man (age 15-35) who loves the Lord and may be open to learning more about the priesthood, you can submit his name and contact information at tylervocations.org/calledbyname.
