Children gather in the St. Francis Borgia Education and Activity Center gym for a past Called By Name event at the Cedarburg parish. (Submitted photo)
Can friars use cell phones?
That was one of the questions spontaneously asked by a child who attended St. Francis Borgia’s annual Called By Name vocations evening at the Cedarburg parish last October.
St. Francis parishioner Maria McIntyre, who helped organize the event, was thrilled — after all, the whole intent of the evening was to allow the Holy Spirit to “touch the hearts of the young people of our parish by exposing them to young men and women religious in a casual, unintimidating and fun way.
“The Holy Spirit delivered,” McIntyre said.
So, about that question: can friars use cell phones? How about religious sisters?
The answer is: it depends. But how would anyone, least of all a child, know that about a friar or a religious sister — unless they get a chance to meet one?
This is the mission of Called By Name, which St. Francis Borgia will host once again Wednesday, Oct. 22. The premise is simple: invite families, invite religious brothers and sisters, invite the Holy Spirit, and have fun.
The event is open to non-parishioners, and St. Francis Borgia Pastor Fr. Patrick Burns hopes that many from outside of the parish will attend.
“We want as many kids as possible to experience this and share the joy, beyond St. Francis Borgia,” he said.
Fr. Burns believes that creating opportunities for families to socially encounter religious sisters and brothers is critical to fostering a culture that welcomes and encourages vocational discernment.
“Even though I grew up Catholic, I don’t remember meeting a religious sister until I got to college. That’s a tragedy,” he said. “We need kids to see sisters and interact with them. We need girls to once again dream about becoming sisters or at least to know that it’s an option — to know that God might call them.”
Catie Weasler, parish Director of Child and Family Formation, had a similar experience. She never encountered a young sister wearing a habit until she was in college but ended up meeting quite a few in graduate school. These connections changed her life.
Wanting to replicate this experience for the kids of their parish, Fr. Burns and Weasler came up with Called By Name four years ago. Last year’s event welcomed over 150 children.
New this year is a talk for parents, “The Call: What it sounds like and how to uphold it,” given by Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., and Fr. John Burns followed by a question-and-answer session. Both are well-known authors and speakers; Sr. Miriam is the host of the podcast “Abiding Together” and was an emcee at the National Eucharistic Congress last summer.
Fr. Burns’ and Sr. Miriam James’ talk will take place at St. Francis Borgia’s north church location at 1375 Covered Bridge Road, Cedarburg, while the concurrently run children’s programming will be hosted at the parish school, connected to the church by a short walkway.
Also on Oct. 22, the parish is hosting “Magnify” for high school girls at their south church location in downtown Cedarburg (N44 W6055 Hamilton Road). Magnify will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will include a short reflection, prayer and discussion led by a Capuchin Franciscan of the Renewal sister from New York, followed by ice cream.
Both Called by Name and Magnify are co-sponsored by Friends of the Bridegroom, an apostolate dedicated to the renewal of women’s religious life.
“We hope the parents of the high school girls will also attend the parent talk (at Called By Name),” Weasler said. The south church is a short drive of less than 10 minutes from the north church/school campus on Covered Bridge Road.
Parishioners who have assisted with the children’s portion of the evening describe previous Called By Name evenings as filled with “energy, joy and curiosity,” in McIntyre’s words.
“To hear from these priests, friars and sisters how their journey to their vocation started and where it has taken them is truly amazing,” Jason Dondlinger said. To get a glimpse into their daily life is very interesting and inspiring.”
“It normalizes a life lived completely for the Lord, helping all of us to remember that we are born for no other reason than to know, love and serve him,” agreed Christin Cilento, another volunteer.
“My hope and prayer is that this event blesses the kids and parents and plants seeds of greater love for religious life and openness to that call,” Weasler added. “That we would provide a space to have their hearts opened to this call, that they would hear it, and our church would be renewed and blessed.”
Called By Name is open to children ages K3 through 8th grade and their parents. To register, visit tinyurl.com/4c5feawh. For more information and to register for Magnify, visit renewreligious.org/learn-more.
