May the Lord give you His peace and a blessed new year! Again, thank you for your patience in trying to reach me. The amount of interest in the CFR's has been very encouraging to say the least.

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." This month I would like to offer some thoughts (I hope helpful) on the Sacrament of Confession.

It has been said by many that we do not have a "vocations crisis".  God is calling! I think that we have a "not hearing the call crisis".  There is so much noise in our daily lives that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to hear the call of the Lord. A regular prayer life including quiet meditation and Eucharistic Adoration is indispensable. Regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is another practice I firmly encourage. I could load on a bunch of quotes from Pope John Paul II to support these ideas. Let me offer a reflection on my own process of discernment (which was not that long ago)! I think that regular Confession is key in conquering the three reasons young men find it hard to embrace a religious vocation.

I was away from Confession for a very long time. During my first year of college I experienced a profound conversion, partly due to the messages from Mary allegedly coming from Medjugorje. I knew that I needed to get to Confession, so, I went behind the screen to an old Monsignor who was hard of hearing! I think that I even muffled my voice a little bit. I remember how awesome it was to receive a new beginning, which is exactly what happens every time we go to Confession. Mary has been calling for regular Confession (monthly) in all of her modern day apparitions (starting in Fatima, 1917). Maybe she knows what she is talking about?!

Sin is like a road block that we put up, blocking the flow of God's grace. I remember that my discernment and ability to hear the Lord in my heart took a dramatic jump when I made the commitment to regular Confession. Now that I also hear Confessions as a priest, I am more convinced than ever of it's power in the spiritual life. Allow me to recommend a good article on this topic and a great little booklet on discerning vocations, both by the late great Fr. John Hardon, SJ. The section on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in The Catechism of the Catholic Church is also a must read. The better you understand the theology behind the sacrament, the more you can benefit from it's power. Lent is quickly approaching, what a great time to focus on the Sacrament of Penance!

I will be away on the following dates during February: 12th - I will be giving a talk at the New York Frassati Fellowship. 17,18th - I will travel to my old Alma Mater, Franciscan University of Steubenville, for the vocation day. 19th - I will help out at the Destination Jesus Retreat (a pseudo Youth 2000) in Carmel, IN. 19-24 - I will be doing a Parish Mission at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Carmel, IN. 24-March 1 - I will visit with my family and hope to be back in New York by March 1st.

Check it out: Most recent Grayfriar News; Pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

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