Eleven years later, Roldan, soon to be ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Toronto, spoke to about 400 youth at this year’s Ordinandi Luncheon, telling them of his vocational journey. He told the young men gathered, “God is like the girlfriend who won’t stop calling. He is going to do everything He can to get you.”
Roldan was one of four speakers who shared their vocation stories March 5 at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton, Ont. Alongside him were his classmate, Paul Finn, who will also be ordained later this year, Sr. Maria Immaculata of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin Matará, and Sr. Maria Kateri of the Sisters of Life.
Organized by Serra International, the annual Ordinandi Dinner celebrates the men who will be ordained to the priesthood later in the year. In response to the increasing attendance of Catholic youth, Serra International, the archdiocese of Toronto and the Office of Catholic Youth organized an Ordinandi Luncheon specifically for young people.
Spanning five different school boards and 40 Catholic high schools, the luncheon began with icebreakers, as well as a comical and musical performance by Joe Zambon, a Christian singer and songwriter. The dramatic presentation that followed depicted the luncheon’s theme, enduring and overcoming struggles with the power of faith (cf. Jas 1:2-4).
The guests at each table were tasked with expressing how they overcame challenges in their community, whether at a school or parish. Then the four guest speakers spoke about the struggles of their vocational journeys. Each speaker had a unique background and a different story, but all shared similarities in their difficulties and in the strength they received to persevere.
Immaculata, Kateri, Finn and Roldan all struggled to follow God’s will for their lives because of personal ambitions and plans. Whether it was a desire to be married, to enter medical school or to study at a university and move on to a dream career, each faced a time when their will conflicted with God’s will.
In addition to the difficulty of surrendering, other issues emerged. Immaculata came from a family that did not practise their Catholic faith, and so was lukewarm in her own; Finn had a sister with a disability that he cared for. They had fears about the prospect of religious life.
“(Jesus) is calling you to holiness. (He) is calling you to happiness. (He knows) where that is, but you have to follow (Him),” said Roldan.
In each speaker’s struggle, God’s grace, coupled with Marian devotion, provided the strength to surrender to God’s will and follow Christ to happiness. By nurturing a love for Mary and entrusting their vocational journeys to her, the speakers acknowledged the supportive and guiding role that the Mother of God played in their lives.
“I encourage you to entrust your future, your vocation, to Mary,” Kateri said with confidence.
By following the promptings of the Spirit and responding positively to the free gift of God’s grace, none of the speakers regrets the choice they made to follow His will for their lives. Rather, they spoke of the inexplicable joy and peace that came from following His plan.
In their vocation, each of the four has fallen in love with Christ, for, as Immaculata said, “It is not possible to know Him and not love Him.”
In the closing remarks, Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick addressed the youth. Speaking of his own vocation and generally of the four guest speakers’ journeys, he referenced St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians: “(God’s) grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
(Pereira, 18, is a Grade 12 student at Brebeuf College School in Toronto, Ont.)