By Father Larry D’Anjou
Director of Vocations

Fourteen men studying to be priests in the Oakland Diocese stand with Father Larry D’Anjou (back row, right), diocesan vocation director, on the steps of Mission San Jose during their visit to the historic mission in Fremont. Greg Tarczynski photo

We are blessed to be experiencing growth in the number of men preparing to be priests in the Diocese of Oakland. Our current count is 24 seminarians. A third of these men come from local parishes. Two thirds come from other countries (Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Poland and El Salvador) that make up our multi-ethnic Catholic population.

Some of them come to us as teachers, missionaries and administrators, and all of them have unique personal gifts and a passion to serve the Diocese of Oakland as priests of Jesus Christ.

To celebrate the “Year for Priests” dedicated by Pope Benedict XVI and to help raise awareness of priestly vocations in the diocese, the Vocations Office put together a “diocesan pilgrimage” this summer that took our seminarians to seven local parishes selected for their historical significance or their proximity to parishes of historical significance.

The pilgrimage had three goals: to raise awareness of local priestly vocations, to help our seminarians better know the diocese and its priests and faithful, and to help our priests and faithful better know our seminarians and become more active in promoting local vocations to the priesthood.

At each parish, we gathered for prayer, interaction, food (there was always plenty of food!) and sharing of our stories.

Our first stop was St. Anthony Parish in Oakland, the second parish established in what eventually became the Oakland Diocese. Msgr. Tony Valdivia, pastor at St. Anthony’s from 1976-1986, talked about his priestly calling and about his many parish assignments. He shared his experience of prejudice in the seminary and advised the seminarians not to be deterred should this happen to them.

Father Rolando Bartolay, parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish in El Cerrito, spoke about his missionary experiences in the predominantly Muslim southern Philippines. He shared how God revealed to him a new mission in the Oakland Diocese.

Seminarian Alberto Perez of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Concord walks with Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone on the grounds of San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville at the conclusion of the seminarians’ pilgrimage. Greg Tarczynski photo

Parish Vocation Advocates (PVAs) from St. Jerome Parish in El Cerrito and St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Berkeley joined us at St. Anthony’s. Carolyn Tune, the PVA of St. Mary Magdalene, told the seminarians that she never misses the opportunity to mention priestly and religious vocations to the young people she meets. Israel Lawrence from St. Jerome Parish talked about “sowing seeds for vocations” in his parish community.

Seminarian Leonard Marrujo, an Oakland native and member of St. Elizabeth Parish, shared how after a career as a graphic designer, the death of Pope John Paul II reawakened in him a vocation to the priesthood. He is now a second year theology student at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.

Succeeding days brought similar experiences at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Martinez, St. Mary Parish in Walnut Creek, St. Joseph-Mission San Jose Parish in Fremont, St. Bede Parish in Hayward, and St. Isidore Parish in Danville. We also joined the Latino community at St. Elizabeth Parish in Oakland for a Sunday Mass and enjoyed delicious pupusas after.

The pilgrimage was filled with many memorable experiences. Two in particular stand out.

At St. Catherine’s, a woman shared her worry that a lack of priests might one day force her beloved parish to close. Seeing the seminarians, she tearfully shared her gratitude to God that so many were still seeking the Catholic priesthood in our diocese.

At St. Bede’s, Father Seamus Farrell, pastor, gave a stirring homily and challenged our seminarians to befriend Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and remain close to his Blessed Mother.

After four days as pilgrims, we joined Bishop Salvatore Cordileone for two days at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville for prayer and liturgy, fraternity, reflection and study.

Bishop Cordileone selected Archbishop Timothy Dolan’s book “Priests for the Third Millennium” as our study material. Seminarians took turns reading chapters dedicated to priestly identity, priestly zeal and the virtues of humility and prudence. Bishop Cordileone and the seminarians jointly developed a list of 21 focal areas for a healthy priestly identity. (This will soon be posted on our website.)

During our “off” time, we enjoyed telling jokes, watching movies and playing cards (the UNO competition was fierce!). Former Bishop of Oakland Allen Vigneron initiated this two-day gathering with the seminarians and the tradition continues with our new shepherd.

Our effort to call forth more local priestly vocations continues during this “Year for Priests” with Project Andrew in which priests invite one or two men from their parish to meet with Bishop Cordileone for dinner, fraternity and information about the Catholic priesthood.

Project Andrew is based on the biblical story in which Andrew leads his brother Peter to an encounter with Jesus. As Jesus said, “Come and see.”

(Father Larry D’Anjou is director of vocations for the Oakland Diocese. He can be reached at (510) 267-8345 or ldanjou@oakdiocese.org)

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