January 25, 2026
This week I have been thinking a great deal about vocations — how the Lord calls, how we respond, and how important it is to pray for those whom God is inviting to serve Him.
Many of you know a bit of my own story. As a young boy, my family made pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Hope in Essex, New York. Those trips left a deep impression on me. I watched the Oblates closely — how they prayed, how they welcomed people, how they lived together as brothers. Without using many words, they said to me, “It is good that you exist.” That message stayed with me, and over time it became clear that the Lord was calling me to follow Him as an Oblate priest.
For the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, January 25 holds special meaning. On January 25, 1816, Saint Eugene de Mazenod founded what was then called the Missionary Society of Provence, which later became the Oblates. His heart burned with zeal to bring the Gospel to those who were spiritually poor, forgotten, and neglected. That same spirit continues today, as Oblates serve in 68 countries around the world, evangelizing, preaching, and offering hope where it is most needed.
Vocations do not happen by accident. They grow in prayer, encouragement, and the witness of faithful communities. That is why praying for vocations is so important — not only for priests and religious, but for every baptized person seeking to know God’s will.
Here at the Shrine, we will hold a Holy Hour for Vocations on January 29, lifting up to the Lord all those He may be calling, especially young people discerning their path. I invite you to join us in prayer — asking the Lord to send laborers into His harvest and to give courage to those He calls.
May Saint Eugene intercede for us, and may Mary Immaculate continue to guide the Oblates and all who seek to follow her Son.
I remember you at Mass.
