February, 2007
My name is Fr. Jerry Francik and I am the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This is my first attempt at blogging but I am so excited about our new website that I thought I’d give it a try!
I have been a priest for over twenty years and the methods of getting in touch with the Vocation Director have changed dramatically. I remember being in college and thinking that God might be calling me to the priesthood but being very nervous about it. I knew no one else who was considering this vocation and certainly no one my age. So I told my best friend about it but mostly kept it to myself. I did not know who the Vocation Director was and never thought of contacting the vocation office. When I finally worked up the nerve, (because that longing was not going away!) to talk to someone else, it was the Associate Pastor at my church that I chose. He was young, newly ordained, had invited me to be part of the Liturgy committee, chaperone for the Youth Group, member of the RCIA team and had become a trusted friend. I called him but it took me probably a half an hour just to complete the call…..In those days we only had to dial 7 numbers---gosh I sound old! I would dial 3 and then say, “Oh, I’ll call tomorrow…..” Then try again and finally hoped the housekeeper would tell me he was not there!!! She put me through immediately and I asked to make an appointment never even mentioning why I wanted to talk with him.
A few days later, biking my way to the rectory, I almost lost my nerve again—and this was with someone I knew and trusted who WAS a priest already! I walked in and, after a little chit chat, announced that I thought God might be asking me to be a priest. His answer caught me by surprise. I thought any priest would be thrilled to have a young man interested in coming into the seminary. Weren’t we short-handed? Didn’t the Church need priests?! But instead of saying, “Great, that’s wonderful, you’d make an excellent priest…thank you for being so generous….” He said, “Why?” It made me pause. Why, indeed, did I think this goofy notion might be from God?
Because I wanted to make a difference in the world.
Because I saw a lot of need.
Because I wanted to do something worthwhile.
Because I wanted to be fulfilled.
It strikes me now that I never mentioned God in these first answers! Maybe I was too nervous. Maybe I thought that was obvious.
He did not let me off easily. “Well, a social worker can do all of those things. Why do you want to be a priest?”
Because I want to give my LIFE I said….not just a 9 to 5 job…….the conversation went on from there.
A Phone call.
An in person interview.
Many times our encounters with young people considering priesthood or consecrated life begin this way. It still takes a lot of courage. But many times our first contact with a discerner is here---through cyber space—an email. That is more anonymous and “safer” but it still takes courage! If you are one of those trying to work up your courage, go ahead, email!
Fr. Jerry
