We get ten, they get three -- good company all around

For the last two weeks I have been visiting different parish to promote the collection for the seminarians of the diocese of Green Bay (Hope for the Future, Help them today). It is always great to see the different parishes in the diocese, and often think, "One day, this could be my parish." With each visit, I love the diocese and the people of the diocese more and more.

I good part of the talk centers on celebrating a simple and pronounced fact: God is answering our prayers for more priests, in fact he has called ten men to enter seminary for our diocese this fall. Adding to the twelve we already have, this means we have twenty-two seminarians. This is great news!

Today we look at another group of priest that serve in the diocese of Green Bay: the Canons Regular of Premontre, a.k.a. the Norbertines. They arrived in the diocese in 1893, with only three Canons, and they have since they built two abbeys, established a national shrine to Saint Joseph, founded my alma mater Saint Norbert College, a number of high schools, and help the diocesan clergy in parish ministry. It is great to have them as co-workers.

God is also answering their prayers for more vocations: this evening three young men will be receiving the habit of Saint Norbert, and will start formation to be Norbertines. We wish the Norbertines many congratulations, and they are assured of many prayers.