Fr. Matt Lorrain, an old seminary friend,

now serves as vocation director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He had me come and speak to interested persons/students at LSU’s Catholic Center in Baton Rouge as part of a series “Discerning Your Life’s Call.” My task was to talk about professional ministry, marriage, seminary (from my past) and how and where God has moved.

Fr. Matt is a good guy; a real person first and a priest second. I enjoy his slightly warped sense of humor (perhaps this is why we get along). It was good to visit with him for a little while.

Also in attendance was Fr. John Carville, vicar general of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. I have always been impressed with how he handles a sometimes dirty job of dealing with problems that come up in the diocese. He’s twice had to “run” the diocese when the church was without a bishop.

It was a reassuring thing to have these two solid priests there, not only for their support but for the witness of their being present for the young adults.

It was great to be among the dozen or so young adults…their questions were sincere, their interest genuine.

I have been doing many presentations on ”vocations” and God’s call among high school students for awhile. I do it at Notre Dame each summer and in other dioceses. Frederich Beuchner, protestant theologian, said vocation is where your deep joy meets the world’s great need. That was the gist of my comments to the group gathered there that night.

It is always a cool thing to do some reflecting on the journey I’ve been on, and to get glimpses of where God has been nudging, smiling at , laughing at (and laughing with), and even wondering about, me.

I got to see former New Orleans leadership teens (now college “women”) Julie G. and Kim M. I smile as I see their faith and energy alive and at work.

And I got to see the lovely chapel on LSU’s campus (I hadn’t been there since it was renovated).