April 17, 2006VOL. 44, NO. 8Oakland, CA

Project Andrew recruits priests

By Voice staff

Father Larry D’Anjou, diocesan vocations director, is currently meeting with more than a dozen men who have expressed an interest in becoming priests. Their parish priests had identified them as potential seminarians and recently invited them to a gathering with Bishop Allen Vigneron and members of the diocesan vocations office.

The meeting was part of Project Andrew, a program to encourage men to consider the priesthood. Twenty-four men, ages 17 to 45, participated from 10 parishes and the St. Andrew Kim Pastoral Center. They were an ethnically diverse group of African Americans, Latinos, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Anglos, said Father D’Anjou.
After the initial session, some of the men decided to join a monthly meeting of prayer and discussion to continue exploring whether they have a religious vocation. Those who speak Spanish meet with Father Ruben Morales, associate director of vocations. The others meet with Father D’Anjou.

Some are high school graduates and others hold college degrees, said Father D’Anjou. Their occupations span a broad spectrum from laborer to mortgage broker. They are active in their parishes as catechists, lectors, Eucharistic ministers and sacristans.
One of last year’s Project Andrew participants has already enrolled in a seminary and another is applying for this fall. Four others are seriously considering joining the seminary next year.

Bishop Vigneron will ordain three men – Weerasak Chompoochan, Peter Son Vo and Jim Sullivan -- to the priesthood next month.

back to top

home