Denver Catholic

6 NOVEMBER 2023 | DENVER CATHOLIC FI R S T S T E P Prayer Fr. Wallace shared: "Prayer is obviously one, making prayer what it's supposed to be, a real relationship with Jesus, not just saying ten Hail Marys. No, it's a personal encounter with Christ where you become his disciple." By talking with Jesus and coming to know and love him, you will want to follow him, he said. S ECO N D S T E P Service "Jesus says, I know you love me if you do what I command you. So, any time there's a relationship, God's going to command us to do something. He's going to inspire you to go out and serve his church," Fr. Wallace says, acknowledging the many service options in northern Colorado, from Annunciation Heights to Christ in the City, from FOCUS to Totus Tuus to Prayer and Action. As families and individuals get to know the Lord Jesus more intimately, they will serve the Church more intentionally, and get to know their priests. "A lot of men here, they're inspired to be priests by the priests of the Archdiocese of Denver," he said. "I call it a virtuous circle. They see a good priest, and they identif y with them, and they say, 'I can do that.'" "One of my main goals is to build a culture of vocations in our archdiocese," Fr. Wallace added, "that priests, deacons, and laypeople are promoting the priesthood. We still have a way to go, but there is a natural love of the priesthood here." Fr. Wallace said that even though he is the vocations director, a lot of the fostering of a culture of vocations is done by the faithful priests throughout the Denver archdiocese. "A lot of young men in our archdiocese here are inspired by so many good priests. I mean, we have a lot of great priests all over the place, in parishes, universities, high schools. So, the young men see that," he said, cele- brating the dedication of so many archdiocesan priests who shepherd their parish communities so well. "They're doing the heavy lifting," he added. "They're hearing their confessions; they're giving the spiritual direction. They're walking with them, smiling with them, crying with them, celebrating with them." Through his many conversations with young men discerning priestly vocations, one thing is clear: the daily example of parish priests across the archdiocese, living their vocations faithfully, joyfully, and generously, inspires through its radical, countercultural witness. That witness starts in prayer and worship, but extends beyond, Fr. Wallace said. "God called his priests in their humanit y to elevate that, to be a priest. So, they didn't leave behind what they loved," he says, recounting the various hobbies of the presbyterate, from hiking to biking, from fishing to music and the symphony. "They take it and it's almost enhanced in a certain way. They appreciate it more." To show the men who are discerning priesthood that very truth, Fr. Wallace and other priest mentors invite them into these hobbies - on hikes, to sports games and to ski trips. The goal of these invitations is simple, he says: "to show them that you become a priest and you don't give up all of this, but you see it and appreciate it a different way." While the presbyterate plays a crucial role in building and fostering a culture of vocations through their wit- ness and presence, the onus does not fall solely on them, Fr. Wallace adds. Every lay person is responsible for par- ticipating in the holy effort. So how can we, the lait y, help? By talking with Jesus and coming to know and love him, you will want to follow him." 1 2

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