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LETTERS
Prayers for priest needed to halt shortage
After attending a “town meeting” at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Staunton to discuss the diocesan strategic planning process, it seems quite obvious that the reason changes are to be implemented is due to the shortage of priests to serve all the parishes.
I have often attended a church in the Baltimore Archdiocese where prayers for priests are offered after every Mass.
So I am using this public forum to ask our Bishop to institute such a practice in our diocese. The planning process is intended to address situations that will occur in the next 10 years or so, but if we do not raise our voices and hearts in constant prayer for vocations, the shortage will continue.
We have been asked, and the planning report stresses, that all Masses include prayers for the success of the planning process. But in scanning the pages of the report I can find no such references to prayers for solving the root of the problem.
Surely if we believe that the Holy Spirit will bless the work of a process, we have greater reason to believe that He will hear the pleas for the solution to the real need — more good, holy priests.
Margaret Cantwell
Waynesboro
(Editor: There have been regularly scheduled Holy Hours with prayers for priestly vocations sponsored by the diocesan Office of Vocations in Richmond. But more prayers throughout the diocese at Sunday Mass would certainly be welcome.)
Youth programs said sorely needed
It should not be a surprise that there is a shortage of priests and that the 18 to 30-year-olds are leaving the church.
Why should we expect a boy who graduates from high school to be interested in becoming a priest? We only give our youth a token of our time during the first 18 years.
Where are the youth programs and active support from the clergy that would energize and stimulate the desire to enter a religious life?
Where are youth-centered Christian programs that our Protestant Christians brethren run with success?
Summer Bible school programs are abundant in the Protestant community, but try to find a Catholic one. I know. My grandson from Spain comes every summer and we enroll him in the various programs. None are Catholic but he comes home excited about God and Jesus.
Unless the Catholic Church makes Christian youth programs a priority we will continue to see a decrease of young men and women entering into the religious life.
When they start raising children, they will look to other churches that provide the programs they didn’t receive.
 Why is Catholic school enrollment declining and their sustainability questionable?
Cost is a factor, but even if we filled the schools with Catholic children what would the other 80 percent of the kids do?
Today they get one hour a week during the school year of CCD. Some churches have a Youth Program for the older kids but what percent of the eligible youth participate? Why would we expect them to join if they have not been encouraged in their early childhood development years?
Yes, the parents and the home play a big part in this process. However, if it is not emphasized by the church leaders as important, then like any program, if the boss doesn’t think it is important, then the workers won’t waste their time either.
Clustering of parishes is a short-term solution for our lack of priests. Our Bishops need to wake up and see the real problem. They have to be actively involved in the programs for our youth and truly interested in the various programs a parish can provide.
Tom Fahrenkrug
Hampton
Have Catholic schools lost their usefulness?
I found the letter of Barbara Davis concerning Catholic schools (April 7 issue) and the comment on it thought provoking and would like to respond.
Maybe Catholic schools, as a method of spreading and maintaining the faith, have lost their usefulness?
Set up to aid the children of poor, Catholic immigrants, they did their jobs well.
Staffed by nuns,brothers and priests, they provided a visible, tangible example of Catholic religious life. But today, they are mainly staffed and administered by lay people and there really isn’t much of a difference between a Catholic school and a secular private school.
Maybe we need to start to put thought and dollars into creating Catholic education programs along the lines of Protestant Sunday schools which serve all ages from pre-school to seniors.
I could see this program not only offering classes on the Catholic faith but also faith-based seminars on parenting, life changes, social issues, legal issues and languages, not only ESL (English as a Second Language) but the languages of the new Catholic immigrants to the diocese.
This would serve as a great evangelization tool also, as a person interested in the Catholic faith would find this a “non-threatening” way to learn.
I think that Catholic education is very important and should be a life long process.
Marie Martinelli
Richmond
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St. Joseph’s School helps Petersburg
Regarding the article about the Petersburg catholic school, St. Joseph’s (“St. Joseph’s School struggles to remain open,” April 7 issue), here are some statistics regarding the Petersburg public school system the children would most likely attend if St. Joseph’s closes:
Over the last three academic years 58 percent of the students passed the English Standards of Learning (SOL); 49 percent passed Math; 58 percent passed Science.
The Petersburg school system leads the state in the highest dropout rate of almost 7.5 percent last year — the state average is less than 1.9 percent.
I believe the most important social work of the Church is the Catholic Christian education of our children.
Drop everything and secure our children’s future first or they may not have a bright future later.
Peter Coleman
Petersburg
read the letter »
Walk for Life seeks walkers, pledges
The annual Walk for Life sponsored by the Pregnancy Resource Center of Metro Richmond is a great way to celebrate life and show your support of our mission.
This year, there is even more reason to celebrate — it is our 25th anniversary! We have been blessed with your faithful prayers and support throughout the years as together we “leave a legacy” for life in the metro Richmond area.
This year’s Walk for Life will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Glen Allen. This is a great event for your whole family to enjoy.
It is a fun and non-competitive two mile walk so all ages can participate. We’ll have Dip-Z, the face-painting clown, again this year along with a free hot dog lunch after the walk provided by the Knights of Columbus.
We encourage walkers to raise support for the PRC by recruiting individuals who will make pledges to sponsor walkers. All donations are tax-deductible, and money raised from the event will help the PRC serve women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
For more information or questions, please contact me at 804–673–4150 or via email at cpcrichmond1@aol.com.
Talona Rogers
Development Director
Pregnancy Resource Center of Metro Richmond
Richmond
Prayers sought for soldier killed in Iraq
It is with a heavy heart that I bring you this terrible news. Cpt. Ulises Burgos was killed in Baghdad, Iraq yesterday 7 April 2008 when his vehicle was attacked by rocket propelled grenades by the insurgents while he was in his vehicle.
Ulises served with Sacred Heart for a short time in the church choir while stationed at Fort Lee until his deployment. Cpt. Ulises had two months left of his combat tour before returning home.
His wife Sarita is expecting their first child this summer.
Please pray for this special family during their time of grief.
Father Jay Wagner
Sacred Heart parish
Prince George
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