We were delighted to welcome six young men who are discerning a religious vocation, prayerfully, hopefully to the Redemptorists. They visited the Holy Redeemer Provincial Residence in DC for the weekend of June 21-23, 2024.

Five of the six who came for the weekend had already participated in our “Come and Pray” and “Come and See” weekends over the past years. A few of them had just graduated from college, so it was nice to give celebration to their accomplishments in coming together with us. 

They arrived by car, bus, train, and plane as we welcomed them to the nation’s Capital. The weekend brought about a nice reunion, especially for those who had first met on one of our vocation weekends.

After Friday Evening Prayer and Dinner, Fr. Peter Linh Nguyen and I gave them a tour, some driving, some walking, as we took in the Capitol Building, passed the Washington Monument, walked through the World War II Monument, and walked up to greet Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial.

We got our steps in, for sure!

Saturday got us started with Morning Prayer at 7:30 am and Mass at 8:00 am. Over the weekend, in the homilies and sharing we did at mealtimes, we engaged them to be thinking about their discernment, to staying faithful to spiritual direction and to deepening in prayer their love for Jesus and our blessed Mother, especially under the title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

Saturday morning took us to the Shrine of Pope St. John Paul II. So much has been added to the shrine by the Knights of Columbus and donors. The museum is so uplifting as it carries you through the life of Karol Wojtyla in the course of history. It is so well done as you are brought back to his early childhood, his call to the priesthood, his elevation to Bishop and Cardinal, his election as the 263rd successor to St. Peter and the celebration of his Funeral Mass in Vatican Square. It so captures his imprint on human history. And it is all so well portrayed through audio and video presentations.

After Saturday lunch, we took our van into historic Annapolis and did a walking tour of the Naval Academy. We held up well despite the heat. Got to get in those steps! We then made our way to St. Mary’s Church and a chance to visit with the Redemptorist community. Of course, we took in the beautiful church and its legacy in Redemptorist history. The cornerstone had been blessed by St. John Neumann, and Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos had lived there as formator of our seminarians during the Civil War. We then made our way to St. John Neumann Church where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration in the chapel daily from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm.

One of the memorable moments of the weekend was for all of us to gather and watch the movie, “Of God and Men.” It tells the story of seven French Trappist monks in the Tibhirine monastery, Algeria, five of whom were martyred in the conflict between the government and a terrorist group.

All of us were taken by their faith, their community life in prayer and work. It was so beautiful to sense their daily life as a religious community and their great love for the people they served. Two different religious faiths, living and sharing and working together.

Sunday brought Mass and departure as our brothers headed back to Brooklyn, Long Island, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Las Vegas.

The Gospel of that 12th Sunday offered the message to the disciples in the boat and to all of us: “Be not afraid, take courage, have faith and trust that God is in charge.” A very good message for our six brothers and for all of us to hear as we seek to do the will of God in our lives.

As Vocation Directors, Fr. Peter and I ask that you keep these six men in your prayers – Peter Tuan Nguyen, Daniel Cutrone, Antonio Manfredi, Tomas Cruz, Jon-Paul Jonkhans and Minh Quan as they continue their discernment. Pray for them and that the “Lord of the harvest” will bless His Church with many vocations to the religious life and priesthood.

May Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, watch over us. May our Redemptorist saints Alphonsus, Clement, Gerard, John Neumann, and all our Blessed and Martyrs, intercede for us.