I normally don't see anything in the newspaper of my diocese that I would blog about but today there is an article on a parish that has had 5 people recently enter religious life. The 3 sisters and 2 future priests all came from St.Patrick's Church in Smithtown which apparently does a good job of encouraging vocations.

"Most vocation research focuses on the individuals, not communities…insufficient attention has been given to the role of parish life in shaping vocations,” reads a CARA study entitled “Findings from a National Survey of Pastors and Recently Ordained Diocesan Priests. According to the CARA study, there are often similar characteristics in parishes
which produce multiple priestly vocations. These characteristics are very similar to descriptions of St. Patrick’s parish.

A parish which has yielded multiple vocations is more likely to possess the following:

• a community environment inclusive of young people.
• multiple priests at the parish who are approachable, dedicated, and have lived a fulfilled life. The parish priests openly invite young people to consider vocations.
• a parish school. (St. Patrick’s has a pre-Kindergarten to eighth-grade school attached to the church.)
• a strong parish prayer life including devotions and adoration."