Eight young men learned about discerning their vocations, seminary life, and priestly ministry on Oct. 18 during a Project Andrew event with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney at Assumption Parish in Morristown.
In Assumption Church, the men, high-school age and older, and some of their parents listened to Victor Parraga speak about his experience as a student at St. Andrew’s College Seminary in South Orange. Father Krzysztof Tyszko, Assumption’s parochial vicar, and a recently ordained diocesan priest, talked about his calling to the priesthood, which started as an altar server.
Then, Bishop Sweeney led the congregation in praying the liturgy of the hours. He preached about how St. Andrew met Jesus and later brought his brother, St. Peter, to meet the Messiah. The bishop asked the men to identify people in their lives who were leading them to Jesus or a vocation.
Afterward, those assembled had dinner with Bishop Sweeney, which the Vocation Ministry of Assumption organized.
The diocesan Vocations Office sponsored the Project Andrew gathering, which is held monthly at different parishes. Priests invite young men to the event.
“It was an opportunity for the young men to meet Bishop Sweeney and have a meal with him. He is so personable. He answered the questions of the men and their parents,” said Father Ed Rama, diocesan vocations director and administrator of St. Bernard Parish in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Rockaway Township. “It’s bearing fruit. Some of the men have expressed interest in discerning a priestly vocation.”
The next Project Andrew event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima/St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic.
To register, call the Vocations Office at 973-77-8818, ext. 711.
— Michael Wojcik
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
