RBWords

     Each year our Promoter of Vocations informs all of us in our Dominican Province how many men are entering our novitiate (spiritual boot camp).  Despite the fact that those entering have about six years of formation ahead of them and there's no guarantee that they will all complete it, the number of novices has an impact on morale that is important.  This year we are receiving four, which is about par for the course for our province over the last few years.  Some religious orders in this country have not had a novice in years!  Yet, in some parts of the world our order is receiving good numbers of novices.  Our own province will have to attract more than four each year if we are going to replace "losses" due to age or illness.  Still, we are grateful that we have novices!

     Jesus' words in today's gospel make it clear that the "master of the harvest" is the one who sends out the laborers.  The "call" is abundant too but the loudness of our secular culture and demographic realities like smaller families, etc. mean that those who might hear the call are prevented from hearing it.  This is where we all come in.  Many of those who enter religious life report that an important element of their journey was encouragement from family and friends.  Do we know someone who might make a good priest?  More particularly, do we know someone who might make a good Dominican!  I tell folks that if they're tired of poor preaching, they can help remedy the situation by encouraging men and women to enter the Order of Preachers - the Dominicans!  I hope my "Beloved Congregation" will be active in doing that!  AMEN