I was going to give this blog a simple title, “Project Andrew”.  Then, I thought to myself, “That title really doesn’t describe the content of the blog at all.”  So, what’s with the title I did give this blog?

On tonight’s Currents, I traveled to Douglaston, Queens and the Immaculate Conception Center for Project Andrew, an event that connects young men considering the priesthood (discerners) with priests and seminarians so they can get a better idea of what it’s like to actually live as a priest.  It’s not always easy for young men to answer a calling to the priesthood.  Peer pressure, family pressure and other factors may weigh on their minds.  I spoke with Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio about just that, and he said sometimes those factors can cause a calling to escape the minds of many young men and it just “goes away”.

Given the current vocation crisis in the Church, the Bishop says young men need all the encouragement they can get to answer their calling.  That’s where Project Andrew comes in.  Special thanks to Fr. Kevin Sweeney, head of vocations for the Diocese of Brooklyn, for his help with this story.

Here’s more information on Project Andrew and other vocation activities in the Brooklyn Diocese:

• The next Project Andrew will be on Jan. 31st (at the House of Discernment) and another on April 23rd.
• There is a High School Vocation Retreat on Nov.14-15 at the Major Seminary in Huntington.
• Bishop DiMarzio leads a weekend Vocation/Discernment Retreat on the first weekend of Lent (Feb. 19-21) at the Seminary in Douglaston.