The archbishop has asked that you take on the role of director for vocations for the Diocese of Norwich.
A Surprising New Role
This was not how I imagined my day beginning on the morning of Oct. 22, 2024, the feast day of Pope St. John Paul II. I had just finished morning Mass at St. Michael in Pawcatuck and was updating Father Perkins about my schedule for the day. As I finished, he delivered this request from Archbishop Coyne, which caught me by surprise.
The Archbishop’s Vision
The archbishop had met with the priests of the diocese earlier in the month. He explained to us that the role of the apostolic administrator is to “keep the diocese rolling” as we await a new bishop to be appointed by Rome. He stressed that the Diocese of Norwich would not be merged into the Archdiocese of Hartford and that his role is simply to act as caretaker for our diocese until a new bishop is installed. To that end, Archbishop Coyne assured us he did not plan to make any major alterations to our diocese unless absolutely critical.
However, he would be making one immediate change regarding an urgent matter that could not wait until our next bishop arrives: one priest would be taken out of parish ministry to focus entirely on vocations. All the priests of the diocese approved of this idea. We all know how vital it is to renew the priesthood with young, dedicated men willing to serve Christ and His Church. Because of the need for priests to remain in parish ministry, it has been many years since any priest has been able to dedicate himself fully to this mission of accompanying those discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life. Nevertheless, the archbishop related that, despite the difficulty it would cause for one of our parishes, it was crucial that a priest be assigned full-time to this ministry.
A Call to Serve
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, meaning “to call” or “to summon.” It is God who does the calling; it is our Lord who gives the summons. Jesus has called each priest in the diocese to serve Him here and now, in this Church of Norwich. My brother priests and I have each discerned Jesus’ request to give Him our lives in service to our diocese. Having received this call, we have accepted His plan and have been ordained priests forever.
The Lord is calling young men from our parishes to serve Him as His future priests. He is also calling young women from our parishes to serve Him in consecrated life, as sisters and nuns in religious communities. It is now my role to find these men and women, to help them hear the Lord’s call and to accompany them as they discern His will for their lives.
I have already begun crisscrossing our diocese, working to instill a culture of vocations among the people of God in Eastern Connecticut. You will probably see me soon in person, and I will continue to update you through Four County Catholic. We all have a part to play in this great work of securing the future of our Church. I look forward to working with all of you as I begin this assignment.
If you feel God may be calling you to the priesthood, take the first step and explore this sacred vocation.
Contact Father Jeffrey Ellis, Vocations Director, at vocations@norwichdiocese.net for guidance and support.
By Fr. Jeffrey Ellis, Vocations Director, Diocese of Norwich