by Mike Snyder | Sep 6, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
For several years now we have been broadcasting podcasts about the transformational experience of a life of mission overseas, answering God’s call to serve the least among us.
Entitled Among The People, with each episode we bring you the voices of our missioners, authors and the people we serve, who share their impactful stories of life long mission, serving the poor, sick and marginalized in the most needed parts of the world.
So please join us at https://maryknollsociety.org/podcast
by Mike Snyder | Sep 6, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
Ordinarily we conduct this retreat at our Initial Formation Residence in Chicago over the Columbus Day Weekend. However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are compelled to have it virtually. This retreat will be conducted for a few hours beginning on Friday evening and through Saturday featuring talks by experienced missioners and even featuring interviews with some stationed presently in Africa, Asia and Latin America. If you are interested please contact Fr. Rodrigo at vocation@maryknoll.org.
You are also most welcome to join our Vocations Facebook Group. This is a private group just for men between the ages of 18 – 40 who are contemplating vocations as priest or Brother with Maryknoll. This group features interviews with missioners, discussions on themes presented by group members and offers members the opportunity to comment on line. If you would like to join this group to enrich and nourish your vocational interest then again contact Fr. Rodrigo at vocation@maryknoll.org.
by Mike Snyder | Sep 6, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
“Mission is a human touch, in whatever form, place, person or circumstance it may reach out to express itself. It is often simple, sometimes sad, occasionally humorous but always enlightening. When one has felt this touch and has learned to respond to its tender embrace, in love and understanding, then one has begun to experience a true sense of mission, in all its beauty and charm and incomparable value.”
Fr. Richard Clifford MM
+2016 after a life of service in Peru and Mexico
by Mike Snyder | Sep 6, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
PLEASE CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND THE MARYKNOLL VOCATIONS WEBSITE
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Vocations@mklvocations
https://maryknollvocations.org
by Mike Snyder | Mar 25, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
Having served in East Africa for many years the sight of Kilimanjaro has always captured my imagination. As one passes by in a vehicle on the warm plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro emerges from the clouds to display its snow-capped peak. It is so enormous, so beautiful and so majestic. This photo was taken by me from a plane. You see clearly the two peaks of Kilimanjaro, Mawenzi and Kibo, and in the far upper left corner Mt. Meru some thirty miles away. The sight not only creates a sense of awe but also instills in me a sense of adventure.
Imagination, excitement and adventure, three qualities essential for a missionary vocation. We are sending you this newsletter because you have indicated an interest in becoming a missionary priest or Brother. I know that looking to the future and contemplating what God has planned for you can bring some anxiety with it. But one still needs to move forward taking deliberate steps through prayer, reception of the Eucharist, spiritual direction, the counsel of friends and family and even some volunteer service that can nourish the possibility of embracing such a vocation.
With the coronavirus pandemic affecting every living man, woman and child in the world we can be challenged in our faith and hopes in life. Perhaps we can find both solace and strength in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For those who love God all things work together for good.” As always we look forward to hearing from you: Fr. Mike Snyder (vocation@maryknoll.org), Fr. Joe Donovan (jdonovan@maryknoll.org), Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry (rulloa@maryknoll.org) and Mr. Greg Darr (gdarr@maryknoll.org)
by Mike Snyder | Mar 25, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
Former Superior General, Fr. John Sivalon, once described Mission this way:
A tangle of twigs lies drying in the sun,
And then a spark catches one, and she,
Astonished by divinity, topples and tumbles and ignites
Another and another and another and
Soon the whole tangle is aflame
Gibber jabbering in many tongues!
Chattering and blabbering until babbling comes
Singing – in so many harmonious parts even the twigs can’t count them!
These words reminded me of the Apostles at Pentecost: “Suddenly, from up on the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind which was heard throughout the house where they were seated. Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.” (Acts 2:2-4)
As the Apostles boldly went forth proclaiming the saving message of Jesus so too have generations of men and women who have followed in their footsteps. They have been like twigs filled with the fire, the passion for God’s Mission as lived in the Paschal Mystery that is Jesus. For the past 109 years Maryknollers have been among those twigs generating sparks that have ignited others and others and others. We continue to go forth and invite you to join us for the short term as volunteers, the long term as lay missioners, and the life term as Priests, Brothers, and Sisters. We welcome you to Maryknoll!
by Mike Snyder | Feb 24, 2020 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
To assist those looking to the future with an eye towards Catholic mission service overseas we will be offering a discernment retreat during Holy Week for men and women thinking of becoming missionary Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Short Term Volunteers or Lay Missioners. This will take place at our Maryknoll headquarters in Ossining, NY just 20 miles north of New York City. Arrival is on Wednesday April 8th or at the latest on the morning of Thursday April 9th. Talks and discussions about these missionary vocations will be accompanied by moments of prayer and the liturgical celebrations of the Sacred Triduum. The retreat will end with the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night with departure anytime on Easter Sunday April 12th. If you are interested contact us at vocation@maryknoll.org for further information.
by Mike Snyder | Dec 31, 2019 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa recently returned to the U.S. to serve with us in vocations ministry. The following is a touching note written to the people he served in China.
In the past six years you were my home and I thank you for your warm hospitality all throughout. You taught me a language deeply rooted in characters as well as stories, you introduced me to an ancient culture grounded in family meals, you let me live with your people whom I greatly respect. Thank you for being patient with me especially when I was learning how to speak, for introducing me to wonderful places where I felt welcomed and safe. There are no words to describe the first time I was understood saying Mass in Mandarin but not before breaking through the fear of pronouncing that second rising tone which I still struggle with. How fondly I remember celebrating Chinese New Years, Christmas and Holy week, events that touched my faith in such a way that made me a better person, a better disciple and a better priest. I never expected to make the marvelous discoveries I had, namely, to learn that God exists and extends beyond the narrow confines of culture and history. With a profound appreciation of God “天主” among the people I worked with, I leave China as a better equipped missioner to take a new challenge in our Maryknoll mother house in Ossining, New York, to work for our vocations department for a 3 year term, perhaps more. Dear friends of Dalian, Shenyang, Jilin, Changchun and Fushun, keep me in your prayers and when you stop in the big apple, let’s meet.
by Mike Snyder | Dec 31, 2019 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
“The mission of the Christian in the world is a mission for all, a mission of service, which excludes no-one; it requires great generosity and in particular the gaze and heart turned heavenward to invoke the Lord’s help. There is so much need for Christians who bear witness to the Gospel with joy in everyday life. The disciples, sent by Jesus, ‘returned with joy’. When we do this, our heart fills with joy.”
Pope Francis (July 3, 2016)
Our beloved Francis is a missionary pope. He understands the heart of Maryknoll. For 101 years we have served God’s mission in countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Pope Francis characterizes this mission as one of joy, something that echoes true for us as our hearts have indeed been filled with joy through the sharing of our lives, our faith, our hope and our love for God through the many experiences and friendships established with the people we have come to serve.
We seek out and welcome men here in the United States and from countries where we serve who are willing to answer the call to be priests and Brothers. In 2019 year we welcomed four young men who wish to become priests and another wishing to become a Brother. We also ordained a new priest and welcomed the lifetime oath of a new Brother. With sixteen men in our formation program and perhaps six more joining us in 2020 we are excited as young men continue to answer the call expressed so eloquently by our Holy Father. As we move forward perhaps you may be one of them!
by Mike Snyder | Dec 31, 2019 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
As part of the training to become a priest or a Brother we have an Overseas Training Program where we send our candidates overseas for two years first to learn the language and afterward to live and participate in pastoral activities with our missioners to gain firsthand experience of missionary life. We have five candidates in Cochabamba, Bolivia right now. The photo here has three of them posing with local people at a festival.
