November 2022

Archdiocese of Dubuque parishioners gathered at Holy Spirit Parish in Dubuque on the evening of November 8 to pray for more vocations with a Holy Hour for Vocations. The event was part of the celebration of National Vocation Awareness Week.

The Holy Hour was led by Vocations Director in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Fr. Mark Murphy. Seminarian Steven Kessler also spoke, sharing his story of discernment. 



According to the USCCB, National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW), celebrated in 2022 from November 6-12, "is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations." 

The celebration began in 1976, when the bishops in the United States designated the 28th Sunday of the year for National Vocations Awareness Week. NVAW was moved to its current annual date during the first full week of November in 2014.*

Fr. Mark Murphy organized this particular regional Holy Hour, in conjunction with Holy Spirit Parish. Fr. Murphy said about the Holy Hour for vocations, "One of the mission priorities for the Archdiocese of Dubuque is promoting vocations in general, and priesthood in particular. Our discernment events answer this mission priority, helping people discern how Jesus is calling them to follow Him with their lives. I think, overall, our discernment events have a double focus." 

"One focus is on inviting men to actively discern priesthood in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. We do this through PITA dinners. PITA is an acronym that stands for Pray, Invite, Talk About It, and Appreciate. Priests invite young men to these dinners with Archbishop Jackels where they have an opportunity to pray, reflect on the invitation to a priestly vocation from Jesus and His people, talk and ask questions about priesthood and seminary, as well as appreciate the mystery of God's call and the gift of vocation Jesus wishes to share with us," Fr. Murphy said.

"Another aspect of inviting young men to actively discern priesthood is the Thinking of Priesthood Day sponsored by all four dioceses in the state of Iowa. The Archdiocese of Dubuque has hosted this day the past few years, and it serves as a 'crash course' in priestly discernment for men who attend. Men discerning priesthood may also visit St. Pius X Seminary at Loras College in Dubuque where we have seminarians in formation for priesthood."

During the Holy Hour, Fr. Murphy also gave a homily after the reading, speaking about his own story of discerning his priestly vocation. In addition to this ministry served through these dinners and Holy Hours as opportunities to consider vocations, there is another focus as well.

"In addition to focusing on inviting people to a vocation, our second focus is on praying for vocations, as Jesus says, 'Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest' (Matthew 9:38). We do this by hosting Holy Hours for vocations, where we have a chance to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, for vocations in our archdiocese. These holy hours include Scripture and often a reflection from a seminarian on his own discernment," Fr. Murphy remarked.

Steven Kessler, a current seminarian attending St. Pius X Seminary at Loras College, spoke during the Holy Hour, also sharing witness to his experience of discernment. 

When asked what he would say to someone who has contributed to the seminarian education fund through ArchdioceseOne, Steven shared, "THANK YOU! Your support is truly appreciated, and I hope the donors know they are supporting the future of the Catholic Church. Without seminarians there will not be future priests and the church desperately needs more priests."

"Not having to worry about how to pay for our classes and room and board helps to free seminarians to discern more deeply about what God is calling us to do," Steven continued. "It also lets us focus more intensely on our formation which I personally believe will make us better priests if we are ordained. Even if someone discerns the priesthood is not their vocation, the formation they receive will make them a better disciple."

Fr. Murphy also spoke about how the seminarian education fund, and support for the fund through ArchdioceseOne, help to prevent the cost of higher education from being a hindrance to men considering the seminary.

"Priestly formation, going to seminary, is a full-time commitment for a man. He has classes, a prayer life, he has expectations to be involved in the community whether that is a parish or hospital or some other type of ministry. He does not really have time to work to support himself," Fr. Murphy remarked. "Additionally, the cost of seminary formation is equivalent to a private college education. Depending on where the young man is in discernment, seminary cost alone could prevent a man from further discerning the call to priesthood. Without financial stewardship from the people of God to support the seminarian education fund, allowing seminarians and future priests to support the Church and the world, I don't know how we would be able to form future priests to help us all continue the mission of Jesus in the Church." 

When speaking about being asked to be a part of the Holy Hour, Steven said, "It truly meant a lot. I am very passionate about vocations and had been even before I entered seminary. I hope my story will inspire others to discern what their own vocation is. God has a vocation for all of us, but we have to be willing to say yes to what he is asking of us. My goal was to give glory to God for how He has worked in my life. I hope by doing this that I have helped people to pray a little more deeply and to open their hearts to whatever God has planned for them."


Above: Seminarian Steven Kessler shared a Witness at the Holy Hour.

Update on ArchdioceseOne Progress:

So far, over $11.7 million has been raised for the ArchdioceseOne special appeal. Of which, $5.6 million of this amount is unrestricted, and over $2.1 million has been restricted for Seminary Education. Thank you for your support not only for current seminarians, but also for future vocations to the priesthood. 

Archdiocese of Dubuque seminarians and Fr. Mark Murphy, Vocations Director, stand in front of the patron saint of parish priests, St. John Vianney. St. John Vianney is also the namesake of the quarters where seminarians live in Dubuque while attending St. Pius X Seminary at Loras - the Vianney House.

Left to right: Archdiocese of Dubuque Seminarians Steven Kessler, Jackson Miller, Cameron Banigan, Matt Smith, Thomas Schnaufer, and Archdiocese of Dubuque Director of Vocations, Fr. Mark Murphy.

* Information from the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (usccb.org)