On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Bishop Dennis Sullivan called for the faithful to pray for vocations to the priesthood, for vocations to consecrated life and for the bravery needed for both.
“You have to be brave to say yes to a vocation to the priesthood,” he preached. “And I encourage all of you to encourage young people … to consider the priesthood, consecrated life, the religious life, the vowed life,” Bishop Sullivan said during the Mass he celebrated April 30 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden.
VIDEO: Watch a replay of the 2023 iRace4Vocations Mass
Concelebrated by a dozen priests, the Mass was among the highlights of the daylong iRace4Vocations faith-raiser. While rain forced a change of plans, it did not dampen the spirits of the 126 women and men who participated in the annual 5K race at noon. Runners of all ages – including priests, seminarians and religious – took to the pavement around Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, crossing the finish line at Jack Curtis Stadium to support and promote vocations in the Diocese of Camden.
After warming up and donning dry clothing, those taking part in the run joined additional faithful at the Cathedral, where Bishop Sullivan spoke about the role of priests.
“The work of priests is to be like the work of shepherds,” he preached on this fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. “In each of the Gospels, Jesus is referred to as a shepherd. … We follow Jesus, our shepherd. He leads us. He guides us.”
He referenced the day’s Gospel, John 10:1-10, in which Jesus says, “I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”
Jesus, the Bishop said, is the way to safe pasture. “Jesus is the door to God. You have to open the door to get to God. You have to have a relationship with Jesus to get to God. … He is the Good Shepherd, and we have to be good shepherds to one another. … Parents with their children, and children, sometimes with their parents; teachers with their students, and students, sometimes with their teachers; neighbors with neighbors; parishioner with parishioner; priests with their people, and the people with their priests; friends with their friends.
“Let’s not forget, we have to be good shepherds to all – even those we may not like, even those with whom we might disagree,” Bishop Sullivan continued. “Those who may criticize us or even some people who hate us. We still need always to be good shepherds. … He is our shepherd. Without him, sisters and brothers, we wander aimlessly.”
After Mass, the Bishop, priests, religious and seminarians visited with hundreds of faithful for a luncheon and awards ceremony in Cathedral Hall.
“I had fun and tried to run a really good race,” said Anthony Faust of Saint Peter Parish, Merchantville, who had the fastest time overall in the men’s category for the 5K and received an award during the luncheon.
“I heard about this [iRace4Vocations] through social media, and I thought it’d be good to support vocations,” the Holy Family University freshman continued, admitting that with his own vocation, he’s “still trying to figure it out, but I’m going to keep listening to what God wants me to do.”
The oldest runner, 81-year-old Lilia Santa Teresa from Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill, not only ran in support of religious vocations, but “to prove to myself that I can do it. I told myself, ‘God is with me.’”
“I want more young men to find their vocation and join the priesthood,” said Santa Teresa, whose nephew is Father Carlo Santa Teresa of Saint Joseph Parish, Somers Point.
Father Adam Cichoski, diocesan director of vocations, said he was pleased to see parishioners from across the Diocese – such as Hammonton, Atlantic City, Bridgeton and further – in attendance.
“The love of the people for vocations and this event really shined through today’s weather,” he said. “I am very grateful for their support in my life, and I’m sure other priests would say the same.”
Staff Writer Peter G. Sánchez contributed to this report.
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