“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:37–38)
These words of our Lord may still echo in our hearts, having been recently proclaimed in the Weekday Readings at Mass. In this scene from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is traveling from town to town “proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and curing every disease and illness.” These signs and wonders reveal the power in his ministry, a power that derives from his being anointed by the Holy Spirit. (Lk 4:18; Ac 10:38).
The very last line of that same Gospel passage, however, reveals something of the poverty of Jesus’ ministry: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” Of course, nothing was lacking in the words and deeds of the Son of God, but when he embraced our human condition, he also embraced the limits of our creaturehood. (Phil 2:6-8) These limits were perhaps most clearly revealed “at the sight of the crowds.” Matthew tells us that Jesus’ “heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd,” and, indeed, the compassion of his Sacred Heart moved Jesus to be the Good Shepherd they so desperately needed. He was, nevertheless, but a single laborer before so vast a throng. Out of this painful constraint, he instructed his disciples, “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
In Matthew’s narrative, the answer to this urgent petition is given in the very next scene: “Then he summoned his twelve disciples.” (10:1) With the call and commission of the Twelve, whom he called “apostles,” Jesus henceforth has fellow laborers for the abundant harvest prepared by his Father. Even more, he has “friends” (Jn 15:15) to accompany him on his missionary pilgrimage. The Twelve, for their part, receive the immense dignity of being coworkers in Jesus’ ministry of salvation and, one day, being co-shepherds of his flock. What a marvelous exchange!
When I was named your coadjutor bishop just over a year ago, I found myself moved to pray and offer Masses for priestly vocations in the Diocese of Camden. For some reason, this intention was foremost in my prayer consciousness. It was only after arriving in the Diocese and reading a superb article written in the Catholic Star Herald in 2022 by Father Nicholas Dudo that I understood why the Holy Spirit had inspired these prayers. In a word, it is because the priestly laborers in Camden will soon be “few.” The title of Father Dudo’s article might say it all, “Dismal projections require greater prayer, action.” I believe this article still offers a prophetic word for our local Church today, and I would very much encourage you to read it.
Bishop Dennis Sullivan, understanding the dire need for local priestly vocations in the Diocese of Camden, composed a beautiful prayer for vocations. He also frequently shared his own vocation story, and after his Confirmation celebrations, he would personally invite some of the newly confirmed to consider a priestly vocation. The fruits of his prayer and witness are manifest: We have one of the most sincere, prayerful and eager group of seminarians in the country (in my unbiased opinion). All that is lacking is more laborers just like them!
To that end, I have the privilege of announcing a newly formed Vocations Team, which will promote priestly vocations in our local Church. On July 1, Father Josh Nevitt, Father Steve Robbins, Father Ricardo Lozano and Father Thomas Piro each began serving part-time as associate vocations directors to ensure that priestly laborers may never be lacking in South Jersey. They will be supported in their work by Father Adam Cichoski, who will remain the Director of Vocations and who will continue to accompany our current seminarians in their journey ad altare Dei.
Certainly, they will let us know in the weeks and months ahead how we can support their efforts in encouraging priestly vocations. In the meantime, we know from what our Lord taught in the Gospels that there is one thing we can always do to promote vocations: We can “ask” for them.
Let us all, then, heed the exhortation made by Bishop Sullivan on Good Shepherd Sunday earlier this year: “Pray that young men be brave and respond to God’s call to the priesthood. Pray that they be open to such a call. Pray that they not be afraid to speak with a priest or talk with one of our seminarians about the priesthood. Young men today face many challenges and barriers that prevent them from hearing and responding to God’s call. Surely, our prayers can encourage them.”