Archbishop Burke and others meet with Holy Father

Before the private meeting, Archbishop Burke introduced to the pope Msgr. William Lyons, Father Thomas Molini, Father Kristian Teater and seminarian John O’Brien. All four are from the St. Louis Archdiocese and are either working or studying in Rome.

O’Brien, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Josephville who has been studying in Rome the past year, called Pope John Paul "a central model" in his pursuing the call to religious life

I recall meeting John after Mass one Sunday at St. Joseph's...At the time, there were three young men from the small parish in the seminary.

Pope John Paul, always interested in the cultivation of religious vocations, asked twice how those efforts were proceeding in the archdiocese to encourage men to consider the priesthood, Archbishop Burke said. The archdiocese has eight first-year seminarians this year, the archbishop said he told the pontiff.

"He then asked, ‘How about vocations to the sisterhood?’" Archbishop Burke said, adding that he reported that some orders of women religious have seen increases in vocations.

Remember to pray for our priests and religious, especially those who are discerning their vocation.

Article here.