By any measure, it is a moment that can change a life.
A parishioner bows his head in prayer. He thinks of a young man he has watched serve at the altar, or greet fellow parishioners with quiet kindness, or linger in church long after Mass ends. He writes down a name.
It is an act of faith. And it is the heart of the Diocese of Allentown’s renewed Called by Name program.
Reintroduced across the Diocese in late January, this powerful initiative invites the faithful to do something both simple and profound: identify men among them who may be called to the priesthood — and help them hear God’s voice.
Monsignor Andrew Baker, pastor at St. Thomas More, shares his vocation story with invitees to the recent St. Andrew Dinner.
At a time when the Church looks to the future with hope, this effort reflects a timeless truth expressed in Scripture: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
For Reverend John Maria, who serves as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Allentown, as well as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Kutztown, those words are not poetry alone. They are personal.
“God does indeed call us by name,” Father Maria said. “He is calling us to be holy.”
Hearing God’s Voice Through Others
The Called by Name program recognizes something essential about how vocations often begin: through invitation.
In parishes throughout the Diocese, parishioners were asked to submit the names of men, beginning as young as age 14, who demonstrate qualities of faith, leadership, and spiritual depth. These names are shared with Bishop Alfred Schlert, who personally reaches out to encourage these young men to prayerfully consider whether God may be calling them to the priesthood.
According to Father Maria, the Diocese received more than 170 names from people throughout the Diocese. These young men will be invited to Andrew Dinners and other discernment events to learn more.
It is not a recruitment drive. It is an invitation to listen.
“We can be sure that we are called,” Father Maria explained, “but in this culture of noise and distraction, we need help hearing that call. Very often, we first hear the call of God when others see special gifts in us.”
Sometimes, all it takes is one person to notice.
One person to ask.
One person to believe.
Spiritual Fathers for Future Generations
The priesthood holds a singular place in the life of the Church. Through the hands of a priest come the Sacraments: the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick. These are the very channels of grace that sustain Catholic life.
“They forego the beautiful good of marriage for the kingdom of God,” Father Maria said, “yet they are true fathers in the family of God, the Church.”
Father Maria said that Bishop Schlert has emphasized that vocations to the priesthood are not optional for the Church’s future — they are existential.
Without priests, there is no Eucharist.
Without the Eucharist, the Church cannot live.
The Called by Name program helps ensure that the next generation of priests will be there — standing at the altar, anointing the sick, guiding souls, and bringing Christ to His people.
Investing in a Calling That Lasts Forever
Encouraging vocations is only part of the journey. Preparing seminarians for the priesthood requires years of spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation.
That preparation is made possible, in part, through the faithful generosity of donors who believe in the future of the Church.
The Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania manages three endowment funds dedicated specifically to supporting seminarians:
These endowments ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a young man responding to God’s call. They provide permanent, ongoing support for seminarian education — not just today, but for generations to come.
Each gift is an investment in future priests.
Each priest will, in turn, impact thousands of lives.
It is a legacy that multiplies endlessly.
A Culture of Calling
The reintroduction of Called by Name comes at a meaningful time, as the Diocese celebrates its 65th Anniversary Jubilee Year of Grace. The anniversary provides a moment of reflection, gratitude, and renewed mission.
But at its core, the program is about something deeply personal.
God calls individuals.
By name.
And sometimes, He uses us to help deliver the message.
In parishes across the Diocese, slips of paper have been filled out and placed in baskets. Names have been written. Prayers have been offered.
Somewhere among those names may be a future pastor.
A future confessor.
A future spiritual father who will baptize children, witness marriages, comfort the dying, and bring Christ to countless souls.
And it all may have begun with someone who simply believed enough to ask:
“Have you ever thought God might be calling you?”
Because when one man says “yes,” the entire Church is blessed.
