December 7, 2007

Archbishop to host Advent vocations day of reflection

By Sean Gallagher

Men from ages 18 to 40 who are interested in the priesthood are invited to attend an Advent Day of Reflection and Discernment from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the home of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein in Indianapolis.

The day of reflection will include Mass, opportunities for prayer and discussion, presentations on the priesthood and lunch.

Father Rick Nagel, associate vocations director for the archdiocese, said hosting the event during Advent gives it some extra spiritual meaning.

“It fits so beautifully with this season of Advent because you begin to think about that process of waiting upon the Lord and preparing to receive the Lord,” he said. “And so here you are, in the same sense, kind of waiting and preparing and wondering if I’m supposed to do that in my life. ‘Am I called to the priesthood?’ ”

Father Nagel said the day of reflection was put on the calendar with various nearby college schedules in mind.

“We intentionally scheduled it on a Saturday right after most of the colleges dismiss,” he said. “IU, Butler [and the] University of Indianapolis will all be dismissing for their Christmas break.

“So a young man can stay over for one more day and enter into their Christmas break with a really cool retreat with the archbishop.”

Father Nagel said that an event like this for men who may be pondering if God is calling them to the priest­hood can be helpful to let them know that they are not alone in their discernment.

“The response that I’ve heard from men who are thinking about joining us is … that they hunger for that time of retreat, that time of prayer, that time of coming together with others who may be thinking about the priesthood,” Father Nagel said. “I think there’s something really powerful in that—that we’re not alone in this.”

(Men between the ages of 18 and 40 interested in ­participating in the Advent Day of Reflection and Discernment should contact Father Rick Nagel by Dec. 10 by calling him at 317-236-1490 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1490 or by e-mailing him at rnagel@archindy.org.) †

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