¨There is a great lack of vocations today!¨  An expression we often hear these days. An expression revealing the uneasiness found in most of us, seeing the drastic decrease of priests and religious in our own country.  No doubt it is a hard reality to face. The Church has to face this reality. We live in times totally different to those of a few decades ago.  But it is not the first such challenge that the Church has encountered through her 2000 years of existence.

This is our reality!  Still there is another reality.  In quite a few countries of the world vocations to religious life and priesthood are in plenty.  It is the case in some of the 15 countries where our Congregation is present.  Young people continually knock at our doors, searching, eager to discover and discern their call from God.  And they are many.  Unfortunately, for financial reasons we have to limit the number of admissions because of the financial challenge related to it. Families of these young people do not have the financial means to help support their formation as families would very often do here in Canada. Their formation lasts usually 7 years in total and, in order to help them discern their vocation, the Congregation has decided to ask them to do their philosophy studies before novitiate. And it costs about $10,000 a year to cover the expenses for each one.

We thank you beforehand for helping us in sharing the task of providing vocations to our Church.  These young religious are called to take over from us, one day. They will fulfill the mission entrusted to us by Christ.  And Mariannhill, in Canada, wishes to make its contribution….with you!

Fr. Robert Deshaies

Provincial superior USA/Canada