FAITH Saginaw Spring 2007 : Page 2
f r o m t h e e d i t o r ‘‘Y ou did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last,” (John 15:16) . Those words were proclaimed from the Gospel on Aug. 9, 2003, shortly before my wife and I exchanged our marriage vows. I cannot help but reflect on them as I ponder the content of this spring 2007 edition of FAITH Saginaw. In the pages of this issue, you well meet several faith-filled people call to marriage – and 18 men who are discerning God’s call to the priesthood as diocesan seminarians. Also, you will meet five religious, who will share the great peace and happiness they’ve found on their own journeys of faith. One Sister in particular had this advice for anyone who is dis- who find great joy in living out the vocation the Lord has led them to. You will meet Jim and Jan Morrone, who have embraced God’s ‘‘ cerning their vocation. She said, “The first step in trying to make a decision about vocation is really to try to grasp, to the extent that we can, the im- mensity of God’s love for each of us. If we can try to do that, we will realize that he desires only what is the very best for us, and we will be able to entrust our lives more fully to him. If we don’t have this basic belief in God’s love, it is very easy for human fears to hold us back from truly giving of ourselves.” Those words are potent and echo the Gospel message Pope John Paul II proclaimed to the church time and time again: “Be not afraid.” And of what should we fear? If we allow God to lead us where he wants us to go, we ought to find our hearts filled with hope instead. I, for one, have much hope. In 2002, I followed the Lord’s lead to the waters of baptism and tasted his body and blood for the first time. In 2003, I promised to love my wife as Christ loves his church. And today, I prepare for fatherhood as new life grows within my wife. As I now anticipate the birth of our child this fall, God willing, the hope in my heart turns in a special way to my dreams for his or her happiness. My prayer is that this person may grow with the faith to find peace and happiness in whatever vocation God has chosen – marriage, the priesthood, religious life or generous single life. And isn’t that the dream of any parent? Truly, we do not choose the Lord, but the Lord chooses us to go out and bear fruit. May the FAITH of the people you meet in the coming pages continue to inspire the hope that burns in your heart. - Matt Treadwell is editor in chief of FAITH Saginaw and communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. be not afraid to live your v Have faith FAITH Saginaw Liturgical Calendar: Palm Sunday April 1 | Holy Thursday April 5 | Good Friday April 6 | Holy Saturday April 7 | Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord April 8 | St. Anse Spring 2007 ... Pope John Paul II proclaimed to the church time and time again: “Be not afraid.” And of what should we fear? If we allow God to lead us where he wants us to go, we ought to find our hearts filled with hope instead. ‘‘
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