Posted on 04/24/2010 7:21:41 PM PDT by marshmallow
Michael Weibley enrolled at Walsh University with the primary goal of becoming a varsity baseball player.
“Anything else came second,” he said.
Now 22 and a graduating senior, Weibley’s priorities have changed drastically. In July, he will begin the process of becoming a Catholic priest, specifically, a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Joseph.
He is one of five Walsh students who say they have heeded a call from God to enter religious life. Others are Courtney Briola, 21, of Pittsburgh; Jennifer Harig, 19, of Lake Township; Melanie Hoepf, 19, of Tiffin, and Amanda Scopilliti, 20, of Hiram.
The four women will become Dominican nuns — a Catholic religious order founded by St. Dominic.
For all of them, it means no more romantic entanglements or children. It means rejecting the universal pursuit of materialism and embracing lives of simplicity and service.
It’s a way of life that may seem unappealing to most. And at a time when the Catholic Church is dealing with a shortage of priests and nuns, five students from one school choosing religious vocations may be unusual. But Rev. Christopher Luoni, vocations director for the Diocese of Youngstown, believes many young people are moving away from an I-centered way of thinking, realizing that priests and nuns “don’t just sit somewhere and pray all day.
“We’re hoping that what seems kind of unusual becomes more the norm,” he said, crediting Walsh’s chaplain for helping students to see how fulfilling a religious vocation can be.
(Excerpt) Read more at cantonrep.com ...
Great news- thanks for the post. The Dominican Order of Nuns is quite traditional and is on my list of charitable donations.
As a Catholic, I’m torn. God love them for pursuing the vocations, but God help me for not believing in celibacy anymore.
I misread the headline as Five Welsh Students, students from Wales. In any case, good luck to these fine young people.
Actually, with God's blessing I don't believe in celibacy. Actually, my wife and four kids thank me.
Which province? One of the nuttiest sisters I know is a Dominican.
It's not for everyone. Don't forget that. It takes a special person to do it. Even those of us who do believe in celebate vocations know that.
Not even for nuns? How would married nuns accomplish much?
Could be Nashville Dominicans. They’re terrific!
As I understand it from my priest our bishops doesn't quite know how to assign him.
Of course we welcome him but he certainly can't go to a rectory to live.
My diocese did the exact same thing around 25 years ago. He was assigned to a parish in Detroit, as I recall, and of course his family went with him.
If I am reading the article correctly, one of the young women is entering the Nashville Dominicans, the others going with the Ann Arbor nuns recently featured on Oprah. Both of these are totally faithful and orthodox.
Yes, there are lots of “suspect” Dominican nuns, but these are not. The Eastern Province of Dominican friars, where the young man is entering, is also faithful and flourishing.
**God love them for pursuing the vocations, but God help me for not believing in celibacy anymore.**
There is nothing at all wrong or errant in these young women and this young man dedicating their entire life to the service of God.
Please take another look at how celibacy assists the priest and nun in their vocation.
Yes, but he has had to go through the Catholic theology program to reach the point of ordination.
Just because you’ve lost faith in the discipline doesn’t mean that others have as well.
We really need vocations. My priest told me in his new reassignment he will have 6 Masses every weekend. He requested a priest assistant but there are none available.
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate released results of its annual survey on ordinands for 2010. Here in the Archdiocese of Portland, we had seven men ordained last year and four more this June. The Shepherd continues to call out men, knowing fully the requirements and expectations of a priest today, still step forward. The CARA research showed more detail about who is being ordained priests this year and among them are the following: average age of those being ordained is 33 (younger than in recent times); 78% were encouraged by a priest to enter the seminary but 50% were discouraged by their parents or other family members from considering the seminary. While some parents would be very supportive of their son entering the priesthood, too many are not. I think many folks are ignorant of what a priest does and the quality of life and fulfillment that the priesthood offers. When one serves the Lord it is often greatly misunderstood.
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