Dialing for young adults
Six answer God’s call, move toward vocational life
By Mary Moore
The Catholic Sun
God called, and six answered.
Six young people from the Phoenix Diocese will be leaving Arizona at the end of the summer to explore religious and diocesan vocations.
Amber Timmer is one of six young adults entering into religious life who was acclaimed at Café Fiat on August 20.
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” exclaimed Fr. Don Kline, diocesan vocations director. “Is there any doubt God is doing great things in the Diocese of Phoenix?”
The packed crowd at Café Fiat answered with loud applause as they recognized six people who have chosen to further discern God’s call to religious life.
Amber Timmer, Carrie Haney, Cody McDonald, Jalen Alexander, Trisha Engel and Tom Parks will be leaving Phoenix at the end of the summer to explore their vocations. These six young adults were acclaimed at an open house given by the St. Thomas Young Adult Community at the Catholic café on Aug. 20.
Mary Peterson, hostess of the open house, said the evening was a beautiful expression of vocations. “I am so glad we had this chance to honor the courageous decision of these six people.”
Fr. Don Kline speaks to the crowd about vocations at Café Fiat on August 20.
The Valley’s newest Catholic hotspot was overflowing with friends and family who gathered to pray, commend and celebrate the six men and women. Each gave testimony regarding vocations and the particular journeys that led them to this point of discernment.
Carrie Haney, a 28-year-old parishioner from St. Thomas the Apostle, is leaving to pray, work and study with the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, Mich. She gave witness to the crowd on God’s creative and fulfilling plan for women in religious life.
“Spending time with the joyful, beautiful, and intelligent orders of consecrated women helped me to realize that our Lord chooses excellent ‘potential’ wives and mothers to be His bride and a spiritual mother for His adopted children,” she said.
She further challenged all present to encourage young men and women to consider the priesthood and religious life. “They hear messages every day about marriage and family life. Your encouragement may be the only time they consider God’s call to another vocation.”
Several of the guests of honor thanked Fr. Kline and others who had encouraged them in their journey. Jalen Alexander, who began his postulancy with the Norbertine Fathers of Orange County, Calif., on Aug. 27, said he was inspired by priests like Fr. Rob Clements who “carry themselves in such a way that brings a real dignity to the office they hold.”
Tom Parks is the sixth person from St. Theresa Parish to join the seminary. He believes the leadership his parish has been blessed with has helped parishioners discern their calling.
Each of the six men and women is looking forward to different aspects of discernment and religious life. Jalen, who says he would hope to also teach one day, looks forward especially to the intellectual challenge. Trisha Engel, who will be living in community with the Intercessors of the Lamb in Omaha, Neb., looks forward to Sundays that are entirely dedicated to contemplative prayer.
“I know people stood in the gap for me to bring me home [to Jesus], and I want to do that for others,” she said.
Following the testimonies, Fr. Kline blessed the men and women, and gave them words of encouragement. “We are so honored to be in your presence,” he told them. “To watch you respond to the call of God in heroic ways, in a time and in a society where that voice of God is so easily drowned out, is an awesome thing, an inspiring thing for all of us.”
Deacon Dick Petersen agreed, adding that the evening was an “awesome opportunity” to honor “six very holy, young people.”