Ohio Bishop: Church making progress in vocations and evangelization

CV NEWS FEED // The Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, is seeing growth in vocations and new converts to the Church.

Bishop Earl Fernandes, in his address to the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club, highlighted the progress made in the Diocese of Columbus in two key areas: vocations and evangelization. These priorities were set when he was installed as the 13th bishop of Columbus in May 2022. Though substantial advancements have been made, he emphasized that more work is needed to continue fostering a culture that encourages both vocations and evangelization.

Vocations in the diocese have seen a remarkable surge, drawing national and international attention. In May 2023, the diocese celebrated five new priestly ordinations after having none the previous year, with another three men scheduled for ordination in 2025. Additionally, the number of seminarians has more than doubled from 17 three years ago to 40 this year. 

Bishop Fernandes remarked, “We are beginning to create a culture of vocations, and we need your help to continue to build that culture.”

To support this growth, the diocese has launched initiatives like “A Good and Growing Need,” a collection aimed at offsetting the costs of seminary formation. Bishop Fernandes credited Father William Hahn, the diocese’s director of vocations, for his role in creating a conducive environment for vocational discernment. 

Father Hahn’s efforts include Come and See Weekends, the annual Quo Vadis retreat for high schoolers, and Andrew Dinners, which give young men the opportunity to discuss vocations with priests and seminarians.

Evangelization efforts also are thriving, particularly among the diocese’s young people. Missionary evangelization groups like St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) and the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) have made a significant impact on college campuses, especially at Ohio State University. 

“Every Sunday now, they tell me 1,000 students come to Mass,” Bishop Fernandes said. 

These efforts are not only drawing students to the Church but also leading to conversions, with 35 people entering the Church at Ohio State this year.

The bishop also emphasized the importance of strong families in fostering vocations and evangelization. He noted that vocations are often born in the family, and strengthening marriages and family life is a priority for the diocese. A new catechumenal model of marriage preparation is being implemented to better integrate couples into parish life. This model parallels the OCIA process, equipping couples with knowledge of the faith and providing mentorship.

To further evangelization, the bishop stressed the need for a “culture of stewardship” and called on the laity to be actively involved in sharing the faith. “Evangelization is not only the work of bishops and priests,” he said. “It’s the work of the laity.”