St. Benedict School, St, Monica Parish partner for inaugural Vocation Day program

Students at St. Benedict School in Garfield Heights participated in the first Vocation Day program on Nov. 10, beginning with Mass in St. Monica Church, followed by a program for sixth through eighth graders featuring a panel of clergy and religious who shared their vocation stories and answered questions.

Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, celebrated Mass and was the homilist.

“Today, we have the ‘smells and bells,’” he told the students, referring to the incense used during the liturgy and the bells rung at the consecration.

In his homily, Father Garris asked the students to think about who is the greatest of all time – the GOAT.

“I’m not great. I’m me,” he said, noting there are many great saints and other role models such as Pope St. Leo the Great, whose feast was observed that day. “But you don’t have to be a priest, a pope, a religious sister or an older person to be a saint. Saints are all types of people – young, old, men, women, etc.,” Father Garris said.

“God gives us grace and we are all called to be great … God is calling everyone. He invites humanity to share in his eternal life … we need to have more vocations, more disciples, more saints … Listen for God’s call. You’ll be happy when you hear and follow his call,” Father Garris said.

Members of the vocation panel were Father Garris, Father John Mullee, St. Monica pastor, Father Tom Haren, St. Monica pastor emeritus and spiritual moderator of the Cleveland Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, Father Dan Schlegel, pastor of St. Raphael Parish and presbyteral moderator of St. Aloysius-St. Agatha Parish, Father Michael Gurnick, pastor of St. Patrick Parish with St. Malachi Oratory, Father Chuck Cairnie, parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis de Sales parishes in Parma, Deacon Stan Drozell, St. Monica Parish, Sister Joyce Hollkamp, SSJ-TOSF, administrative assistant at St. Monica, and Sister Valerie Sweeney, SND, a chaplain at Jennings in Garfield Heights.

The panelists explained how they heard the Lord’s call and how it led to their vocation. They said everyone is called to a vocation: married life, single life, religious life or life as an ordained member of the clergy.  

Some priests, like Father Mullee, had a career before the priesthood. “I was late to the Eucharistic table,” he said, noting he served in the Air Force and worked 20 years in the business world before entering the seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2012.

Sister Hollkamp, a 38-year member of her congregation, said she also was a late vocation, entering religious life at age 34.

Father Cairnie, who was ordained in May, said he was shy as a young boy, but learned “that was the enemy wanting me to stay where I was … It takes courage to hear and answer the Lord’s call. He walks with us and we need not fear,” he told the students. “Our strength comes from the Lord.”

“Be attentive for a sign from God,” Father Schlegel said, explaining that sometimes the sign can be subtle.

Nicholas Quallich, St. Monica director of liturgy, organized the event. He said it was important to help the students learn more about vocations at a young age.

“There is no better time than today to help our younger brothers and sisters grow in their relationship with Jesus,” he said. “If they knew very little about vocations, now they know more, and they know it’s not just about becoming a priest, deacon or sister. It’s about asking God: ‘What do you want of me Lord? How can I serve you with all the gifts and talents you have given me?’ Our lives our not about us. Our lives are about God who gave us the life we have, that we may serve Him in our lives through service to our neighbor,” Quallich said.

“Make room in your life to hear the Lord,” Father Gurnick added.

The Vocation Day program ended with refreshments before students returned to class.