Message from the Director of Vocations

In her work of sanctifying, teaching and governing, the Church acts as a body united to her head, Jesus Christ (1Cor 12:12,27). All who are baptized into Christ’s body participate in their own way in the office of Christ who is priest, prophet and shepherd-king, although in ways which are essentially different. Each is called according to his or her own particular condition, to exercise the common priesthood, while others, according to the three grades of the sacrament of holy Orders, participate in the ministerial priesthood.

Historically, ministerial priesthood in the Latin Church has experienced numerous modifications and developments since Apostolic times. However, the invariable and everlasting element which spans the past two millennia is the radical personal knowledge and intimate configuration to the person of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Knowledge of the Word Incarnate necessarily means an understanding of his mission and direction to the Father. It associates both the Sacrifice of Calvary and the Banquet of the Upper Room with the saving work of God.

The mission and ministry given by Jesus were consigned to the apostles who proclaimed ceaselessly the Lord’s death and rising. Out of fidelity to him they also transmitted the ministry, in the form of a developing priesthood, to the maturing ecclesial community. So sacred was the ministry that, those called by God and elected to it by the community, underwent a period of discernment and preparation in order to be formed more closely to the person of Jesus Christ.

While the day-to-day praxis of formation may have changed over the passage of time, the foundations of the faith remain. The Second Vatican Council recalled the Christocentric nature of the church and restated the tradition that her priests function «in persona Christi». Their formation was therefore to be modelled on the «three works» of Christ who is priest, prophet and shepherd-king. In reality then, those members of Christ’s faithful who are called to the sacred ministry are instructed to live the gift of faith received in baptism, in their function as spiritual guides, messengers of hope and community leaders.

Message from the Archbishop

3 August 2001

"To be a Priest is to be a man of God. It is to lead people in the vision of transforming the world according to the mind of Jesus Christ. There is no more challenging or satisfying leadership role in the world today than Priesthood. After forty years of Priesthood I would be prepared to do it all again, each and every moment of it."
Archbishop John Bathersby DD Archbishop of Brisbane Archbishop’s House, 790 Brunswick Street, New Farm Qld 4005, Australia

Further reflections from Archbishop Bathersby
(From Letters written June and 1 August 2001)
One of the great joys for me in attending the World Youth Day Pilgrimage was the experience of seeing so many young people enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. I came back to Brisbane with a hope that we might be able to develop some new opportunities in the Church of Brisbane for young people to have similar experience. Encountering Christ personally and responding to his call in our lives is at the very heart of the Christian life…. It is my hope o share the vision of priesthood and what it means to follow Christ and take up his mission in the world today… The team who work with me will be made up of priests and lay people who will share from their own experience of following Christ and the difference this has made in their lives.

…Recently Archbishop Legaspi from the Phillippines, appointed by the Holy See, visited our Seminary at Wavell Heights and was enormously impressed by the calibre of our Seminarians. For that I am extremely grateful to Father Michael McCarthy and Seminary Staff. They do a splendid job. At the same time Archbishop Legaspi noted our need for more students and gave us every encouragement to seek them with energy and vision. In your prayers, please include prayers for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life… I am confident that we will find the vocations we need if each member of the Church plays his or her unique role in this project.

Pope's prayer for Vocations

I am often asked, especially by young people, why I became a Priest. Maybe some of you would like to ask the same question. Let me try briefly to reply. I must begin by saying that it is impossible to explain entirely. For it remains a mystery, even to myself. How does one explain the ways of God? Yet, I know that, at a certain point in my life, I became convinced that Christ was saying to me what he has said to thousands before me: “Come, follow me!” There was a clear sense that what I heard in my heart was no human voice, nor was it just an idea of my own. Christ was calling me to serve him as a Priest.

And you can probably tell that I am deeply grateful to God for my vocation to the Priesthood. Nothing means more to me or gives me greater joy than to celebrate Mass each day and to serve God’s people in the Church. That has been true since the day of my ordination as a Priest. Nothing has ever changed, not even becoming Pope.

Pope John Paul II, Los Angeles, USA, 14 September 1987

Prayer for Vocations to Priesthood

When Jesus saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them
because they were harassed and dejected
like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is rich but the labourers are few;
so ask the Lord of the Harvest to send labourers to his harvest.”
Mt 9:36-37

Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd,
protect, we pray, the flock of God's people,
comfort it and revive its spirit,
lead it to fresh pastures and restful waters.

Call from our midst
young men to be our pastors,
bold in spirit,
generous in heart,
and clear in vision.

(I especially pray for …)

Bless them with the gifts to become
forthright messengers of hope,
strong community leaders,
and wise spiritual guides for your people.

Show them the gifts you have given them,
inspire them with the needs of the Church,
and make them brave enough to offer
their service for leadership in the Church.

Hear our prayer, Lord of the Harvest,
and send labourers into the fields
which you have sown,
so that the rich harvest may be gathered
and made ready for the banquet of heaven
where you live and reign for ever and ever.

AMEN.