‘Quo Vadis’

NEWTON  It’s one thing to learn about the priesthood by thumbing through a pamphlet from the diocesan vocations office or a religious order filled with descriptions and photos of priests celebrating Mass and caring for the poor. But Krzysztof Tyszko of Holy Rosary Parish, Passaic, prefers to learn more about priestly life by speaking with priests and seminarians of the Paterson Diocese.

From June 29 to July 1, Tyszko, a diocesan seminarian, and 37 other young men from the Church of Paterson got the opportunity to see priests and seminarians up close during the Quo Vadis Days 2016 discernment retreat, guided by the theme “The Universal Call to Holiness,” at Sacred Heart Spirituality Center here. These young men, who ranged in age from their teens to their 20s, explored God’s call — as a priest, religious, married person or single person. They followed a busy schedule of activities, which included daily Mass, prayer, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, talks on vocations and the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli, clergy and seminarians and time for fellowship and quiet reflection.

“Quo Vadis has been the place, where I could take the next step [in discernment of the priesthood]. I could talk with priests and seminarians, who were all at different stages in their lives, about their experiences, which were positive. It’s not like flyers about the priesthood,” said 19-year old Tyszko, a five-time veteran of Quo Vadis, who finished his first year at St. Andrew’s College Seminary of Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange. “I’ve always thought about priesthood. I’m at peace with it [the decision]. I’ve always had a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. That I might be able to consecrate the Body and Blood of Christ is mind-blowing. To be that close to Jesus would be amazing,” he said.

During the retreat, participants also got time to socialize and engage in friendly competition playing sports while taking in the bucolic beauty of the woodlands that surround the spirituality center. All the while, they engaged in enlightening conversations. Thursday afternoon, Bishop Serratelli visited the young men, celebrating Mass, joining them for a cookout arranged by the Knights of Columbus and inviting them to ask him questions about his vocation and the priesthood during a special session. The diocesan Vocations Office organized the Quo Vadis retreat, which in Latin means, “Where are you going?”

“Bishop Serratelli supports and encourages vocations in the Diocese and enjoys praying with Quo Vadis participants. He is open to all questions. The Bishop is someone that the young men can relate to — one of the guys,” said Father Jared Brogan, an assistant vocations director and administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Mountain Lakes. He ran the annual retreat with Father Edgar Rivera, also an assistant vocation director and pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Passaic.

Helping out at Quo Vadis were seven priests — including a few of the newly ordained — and eight diocesan seminarians. Throughout the retreat, several seminarians delivered talks about aspects of faith and vocation. They were “Vocation: Universal Call to Holiness and Love” by Cesar Jaramillo of the North American College, Rome; “Living Out That Call Now” by Tyszko; “Four Types of Vocation” by Wade Trainor of St. Andrew’s; “Mary” by Timothy Hughes of St. Andrew’s; and “Prayer and Discernment” by Francis Lennie of St. Andrew’s. Participants also joined in small and large group discussions about various topics and were encouraged to go to Confession from the priests available.

“This is a serious group of young men this year at Quo Vadis. Many of them have attended retreats in the past. Several participants have gone onto pursue the priesthood. It is bearing fruit,” Father Brogan said. “More than wanting these men to think about the priesthood, we want them to grow as Christian men and grow closer to God. We want them to be aware of His presence in their lives and that He has a plan for them,” he said.

The retreat at Sacred Heart Spirituality Center, operated by the Salesian Sisters, also encouraged participants to reflect on the “universal call to holiness:” how we are called to be holy and how to live that out. We are all called to become saints and attain that in a different way.”

The young men used the quiet time to put down their cell phones and focus on God and one another, said Father Brogan, who also acknowledged the support of the participants’ parents and pastors.

In his talk on “Prayer and Discernment,” Lennie encouraged participants to develop a rich prayer life to help them hear God’s call. We “must “have hearts with ears for Christ’s word” and, as St. Paul wrote, “must pray without ceasing.” Priests usually engage in morning, evening and nightly prayer; have a special devotion to Mary, who teaches them to “surrender to God for all things” and look to the example of the saints, such as Joseph, who “teaches them to be holy men of God,” he said.

“Discerning is not without prayer. Seek out your spiritual director to help you understand what the Lord is leading you to do. The Mass allows us to remain close to God,” Lennie said. “When you pray, do not approach God with fear. He wants us to be open with our thoughts and feelings,” he said.

In fact, 17-year-old Andrew Echavarria’s experience at last year’s Quo Vadis encouraged him to embark on an active prayer life. The parishioner of Holy Rosary, Dover, said that he recognizes that priests engage in many spiritual activities, such as Eucharistic Adoration, Liturgy of the Hours and many forms of personal prayer.

“I have felt the call to priesthood since I was young. I’ve always enjoyed going to Mass,” said Echavarria, who noted that several of the talks during Quo Vadis have answered many of his questions about priesthood. “I want to be a priest because I’m like my mother: I like to help people who feel down and unhappy. But I realize now that it’s not whether I want to be a priest, it’s whether God wants that,” he said.