Less than a decade ago, \u00a0Rutgers student Jeffrey Calia\u00a0sat in those pews. Baptized in the Lutheran faith, but not raised in a church-going family, \u00a0he converted to Catholicism during his college years. Now Brother Jeff<\/span>\u00a0in the Metuchen Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri,<\/span>\u00a0he will be ordained over Memorial Day Weekend \u00a0at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral <\/a>in Metuchen. After Brother Jeff\u2019s conversion, his mother converted to Catholicism after marrying a Catholic man; and Brother Jeff\u2019s father, a lapsed cradle Catholic, has begun to attend Mass regularly as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Faith is blossoming at colleges across the country, and that is encouraging vocations. At Walsh University, a small Catholic institution in North Canton, Ohio, five students are entering religious life: one young man will be ordained a priest and four women will become Dominican nuns. All of them credit campus chaplain<\/span> Rev. Christopher M. Saliga,<\/a> for helping them to follow God\u2019s plan. (I would love to collect more of these success stories. Readers: what are yours? )<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/__dQCWErAY9c\/S9XScEzgAyI\/AAAAAAAAAKU\/8CTMmBV5IM0\/s1600\/nunpraying.jpg\")
<\/a>In 1964, Pope Paul VI launched the World Day of Prayer for Vocations with this prayer:\u00a0\u201cO Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us.\u201d \u00a0Since then, Catholic parishes around the world have been praying for vocations every fourth Sunday of Easter.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span> Despite the prayers of faithful Catholics, the number of religious priests, brothers and sisters has relentlessly declined in the United States.\u00a0But lately: signs of hope.
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On Sunday at St. Peter\u2019s Parish <\/a>\u00a0in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Father Tom Odorizzi, C.O., spoke forcefully during his homily to about 100 Rutgers University students gathered at the 8 p.m. Rutgers Catholic Center Mass. He shared his own story of graduating from college with an electrical engineering degree and every intention of launching a successful career as an engineer. \u201cSo it\u2019s possible,\u201d said the pastor, who was ordained in 1992. \u201cYou need to have a heart that is open, a heart that is open to the call of the Lord.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n