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Christopher de Leon (center) listens during the priest ordination at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland June 13, 2009. (Owen Sweeney III/CR Staff)

Religious vocations flourish in Clarksville

June 25, 2009
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News, Vocations

It was after daily Mass at St. Louis in Clarksville when Monsignor Joseph L. Luca asked a young communicant if he had ever considered becoming a priest.

The faithful parishioner was embarking on a career as an engineer. He seemed a bit surprised by his pastor’s question, but the seed was planted.

Twelve years later, Christopher de Leon entered St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park to begin his first year of study to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The support of his pastor and faith community helped him answer the call to religious life, he said.

De Leon’s story is a familiar one at the Howard County parish.

Counting the recent ordination of Father Ernest W. Cibelli, there are seven active archdiocesan priests who hail from St. Louis. In recent years, three others were ordained priests for religious communities and another was ordained a priest for another diocese. Three women from the parish have taken vows in religious orders and six men were ordained to the permanent diaconate.

There are currently three men from St. Louis studying to become archdiocesan priests, two men in formation to become deacons and one high school student who is discerning a call to become a Xaverian Brother.

“I really believe there are vocations in every parish,” Monsignor Luca said. “It’s a matter of cooperating with God’s call and being encouraging.”

At every Mass at St. Louis, petitions are offered for religious vocations and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the weekends is focused on vocations. Positive modeling of what it means to be a priest is an important component for attracting young people, Monsignor Luca said.

“When they see a joyful priest being so central and integral to the lives of the people around them – being with them in times of joy and times of sadness – that attracts them,” he said.

Monsignor Luca said the priests of his parish make an effort to show an interest in young people and foster healthy relationships.

“They know the priest not as a distant figure at the altar on Sunday, but someone they personally know,” he said. “It’s in that personal relationship that vocations are born. It’s not drudgery to promote vocations. It’s a joy.”

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Copyright © 2009 Catholic Review Media

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George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

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