May the Lord give you His peace! Again, thank you for your patience in trying to reach me. We are presently working on a second rollover phone line in order to better serve you in your attempts to contact us. Br. Peter and Br. Sebastian will be helping me as a "vocations team."

In the first Vocations eLetter I quoted Pope John Paul II on three reasons why it is hard for young men to embrace a religious vocation: "Fear of commitment, lack of a clear understanding of this calling, and a deficient relationship with Jesus Christ." Last month I wrote about the benefits of having a spiritual director. This month I would like to offer some thoughts (I hope helpful) on the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II and his influence on our community.

I was in the middle of giving a talk at the Youth 2000 Retreat in Fort Worth when we received word that our beloved Holy Father had passed away. There is no other place that I would have rather been (Year of the Eucharist, Divine Mercy Weekend). I stopped my talk and invited the 1,100 plus young people to join me in silent prayer, kneeling before our Eucharistic Jesus exposed in the Monstrance at the center of the room. I led a prayer, mentioning the reality that when we die, our soul leaves our body and goes to God. Because Jesus was there, we knew that in a mystical way, Pope John Paul was also present, adoring Jesus with us. Here we were doing exactly what our Holy Father has led us to do. It was an unforgettable experience.

I prayed, "Lord, now what do you want me to say?" I felt inspired by the following thought: The mission, vision, legacy and plans of Pope John Paul did not die with him. It is not over now, although many in the media want this to be the case. Now it begins! The Holy Father has passed the torch on to us, the young people formed by his pontificate. It is up to us to pick up the baton and run with it. This will be the fruit of his ministry. The World Youth Day movement and all other youth ministries inspired by Pope John Paul will yield a harvest yet unimagined. Youth 2000 is one such movement which received the personal blessing of the pope a few years ago (Oct. 23, 2003, #4). We are attempting to put into practice his words and advice.

Some suggested vocational readings:

GIFT AND MYSTERY: POPE JOHN PAUL II On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, by Pope John Paul II. This spiritual autobiography begins with his youth in Poland and continues through his elevation to Pope. In a spiritual testimony, he describes his journey to the priesthood: his childhood, education, the years of Nazi occupation that led him to dedicate his life to God and his ministry.

RISE, LET US BE ON OUR WAY Drawing on the period when-as Karol Wojtyla-he became a bishop in 1958 through his appointment as the first Polish Pope in 1978, Pope John Paul II fills RISE, LET US BE ON OUR WAY with both recollections of his own life and his thoughts on issues facing the world now. Pope John Paul II reminisces about everything from being called to Warsaw during a canoeing trip to be told he was being named a bishop of Krakow to his clashes with authorities to protect the church in Poland and the clandestine meetings he organized to find help. He also discusses topics like his passion for theatre and the controversy of celibacy amongst priests.

More than just a collection of memories, however, RISE, LET US BE ON OUR WAY is also a call to action. In discussing issues like the strength of mercy, the importance of harmony between faith, reason and the heart, and the necessity of encouraging children to pray, Pope John Paul II shows us that with little steps, we can change the world.

I could not find a good and easy online Catholic bookstore to link for purchasing info. Both of these books are real inspirational, especially for those discerning a religious vocation.

CHECK IT OUT:
Pilgrimage to Medjugorje.
Info about Terri Schiavo.
JP II Video clip.
Centro Televisivo Vaticano (Live Vatican TV online).
EWTN online Papal information.

Rumors are starting to circulate that the Medjugorje visionary Ivan saw Pope John Paul during his apparition of Our Lady on April 2, 2005. Medjugorje USA has confirmed this unofficial report through our sources. On April 2, 2005, Ivan was recommending intentions to Our Lady when the Pope appeared on her left. He was smiling, young, very happy and all in white with a long gold cape. Our Lady said to Ivan: "This is my son; he is with me."

We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. May the Lord give you the grace to know His plan for your life and the courage to follow Jesus wherever He is calling you! As you may know, we are not running any special "Come and See" weekends. Rather, give me a call (keep trying!) and we will set up a visit. I think that this method is more helpful in your seeing our way of life as it is with no candy coating, etc. Don't forget all of the people that the Lord wants to get to heaven through YOUR ministry. The harvest is ripe! In struggling to be faithful to our vocation we know that this is the Lord's plan to get us to heaven and take as many people with us as possible. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back!

Thank you for your patience in contacting me,
God bless you,


Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR 
Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd Street
New York, NY 10031
(212)281-4355                                                         Archive eLetters