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 GregDarr | Mar 25, 2020 | Vocations - Events
One morning, while serving as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Kenya, I stood at the side of a rural dirt road awaiting a small bus that would take me to a nearby village. There were no bus schedules. Like others waiting along this remote stretch, I packed food and water and patiently marked time until I finally heard the putter of a straining motor. Moments later, a colorful van rounded the bend about a mile distant. As it approached me, it sputtered to a stop. I tumbled into an open seat as it lurched onward again. In doing so, I noticed the floorboard missing in front of me – I had to position my feet on vehicle’s exposed frame to keep them from dangling through the floor and into the moving road below.
We traveled only about a mile further before the engine made an ominous noise. The bus then lurched to a sudden stop in the middle of the road. Another rider, who turned out to be the bus conductor, climbed quickly out and pulled himself through the dirt to a position beneath the engine. While passengers murmured around me, the driver dropped various tools to the conductor through holes in the rusted floorboard.
About 10 minutes later, the conductor shouted up to the driver to start the engine. It coughed at first then purred like a sound working motor. As the conductor climbed back into the bus, the driver asked him what had happened. The conductor replied without hesitation, “We were blessed that the engine started once again.” And, that was that. Without another word, the conductor returned to his seat and the driver continued onward. I reached the village safely about an hour later.
This year’s theme of the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis was “Blessed, Broken, Given”. Life journeys, much like my rural bus ride in Kenya, can often be summed up by these three words. What I was “given” in the experience of riding a “broken” bus that was “blessed” to start once again was a new perspective on those moments when we feel “stuck” in life, “broken down” in the middle of our journey. Those who accompany us – sometimes even unknown to us at first – may unexpectedly share gifts, skills, wisdom and insight that empower us once again on our way. These special people do not draw attention to themselves or their expertise. Rather, they selflessly remind us of blessings and gifts that carry us down the road even when we feel at times stuck or broken. We, as Maryknollers, are touched and transformed time and time again by people such as this young Kenyan — people who step up when needed, quietly repair things and then credit God for their successes.
The English writer, Mary Ann Evans, writing under the pseudonym “George Eliot” observed in her classic novel, “Middlemarch”, “For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistorical acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”*
Maryknollers know well these “hidden lives” and “unvisited tombs”. They represent the “fundi” (“handyman” or “expert” in Kiswahili) who staff or volunteer in our missions. They represent our religious brothers and sisters whose “behind the scenes” work run our parishes, schools and other ministries. They are made up of those “ordinary people” whose life experiences and skills are shared humbly as gifts that reveal expertise and wisdom far beyond our professional training as missioners.
We are blessed by them. We are broken without them. We are given much from them. No Maryknoll vocation in mission can thrive except in loving solidarity with them.
*This quote also prefaces Terrence Malick’s powerful film, “A Hidden Life” based in large part upon the Orbis Book, “Franz Jägerstätter – Letters and Writings from Prison” edited by Erna Putz.
Greg Darr is a Minnesota native and US Army veteran. As a Maryknoll lay missioner in Kenya, Greg worked with a Church-sponsored program assisting displaced and refugee communities toward developing local initiatives in reconciliation and peacemaking. Greg now serves on the Vocation Ministries Team of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers.
by rodulloa | Mar 25, 2020 | Vocations - Events
Here’s a good story for you. As a new member of the Maryknoll vocations team I traveled for the first time to the state that has the magnificent, the one and only Mt. Rainier. I am speaking of Seattle where Jonathan Jose is currently applying to join us as Brother. He showed me around including the first Starbucks coffee and Century Link Field, where he currently works.
One of the highlights of this trip was certainly meeting Jonathan‘s parents who invited me to celebrate Mass at St. Andrew’s, their home parish. I consider these, “home visits” one of the best part of the job because we get to connect not only with the person who is applying but also with their families and friends who play a key role in motivating the person to make that leap of faith, trust in their inner voice and follow what God has in store for them, namely, a life full of adventure.
Aware that we are in the Lenten season, here’s a poem by J. Janda you may find helpful. It reads, “You get too discouraged, you forget you are learning, to walk of course, you fall down, give yourself time, I am patient with you. Be more patient with yourself, I have something very special in mind for you, something only you can do, don’t give up.”
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.
by Mike Snyder | Dec 31, 2019 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
We have accepted two new seminarians to our Initial Formation Program and it is with pleasure that we welcome them to Maryknoll!
Dr. Paschal Madukwa M.D.
Paschal is 27 years old and comes to us from Mwanza, Tanzania.
Nicholas Mulei
Nicholas is 23 years old and comes from Machakos, Kenya.
by Mike Snyder | Nov 12, 2019 | Vocations - Blog, Vocations - Events
We held a vocations retreat at our Chicago Initial Formation Residence over the Columbus Day Weekend. Retreatants hailed from Texas, Arkansas, Illinois and Washington State. Unfortunately, due to other commitments, others who are interested in a vocation with Maryknoll were not able to attend. Some of our seminarians and Brother candidates joined us and were able to spend time with the retreatants talking about their experiences with Maryknoll. Our vocation director, Fr. Mike Snyder, opened the retreat on Friday evening. On Saturday morning some of our youngest priests, Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa and Fr. Daniel Kim and Deacon Greg McPhee, gave testimonies to their first years in mission overseas. In the afternoon retreatants traveled to a food pantry where some of our seminarians and Brother candidates volunteer. The evenings included social time and a Zoom conference call with Fr. Peter Latouf serving in Hong Kong together with a young man from his parish who too is interested in joining Maryknoll.
Our next vocation retreat will be held at Maryknoll headquarters during Holy Week (April 8 – 12, 2020). Please contact Fr. Mike at vocation@maryknoll.org for more details.
