Vocations and Family
May 10, 2026
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~
Last Monday, May 4th, Anthony Jackson, a parishioner of ours, left for St. Martin’s Abbey in Lacey, Washington to become a Benedictine monk. What a blessing for Anthony and the whole Church! Please keep Anthony in your prayers as he’ll need them. I’ve attached a short autobiography of Anthony’s vocation at the end of this pastor’s column.
This is now the 8th religious vocation from our parish family that is currently in formation for Solemn Vows in a religious community or for the sacrament of Holy Orders. Two generations ago, those kinds of numbers were to be expected in a parish our size. In this day and age, those kinds of numbers are amazing. They speak to something that goes way beyond my influence as a priest and pastor—these vocations speak to the practice of the faith in this community, and especially within many families.
Family—Seedbed of Vocations
On our vocations poster in Holy Redeemer’s narthex, four of the eight vocations pictured will have come from two different families. Two vocations from the same family—how is that possible, when so many families never have a single religious vocation? Actually, it’s been going on for a long time. Look no further than the Apostles: Peter and Andrew were brothers; as were James the Less, Jude Thadeus, and Simon the Zealot. Quite a number of the 10,000 plus canonized saints had siblings who were clerics or consecrated religious. You might remember that St. Terese of Lisieux had four sisters who were nuns as well. How does it happen that a family has a religious vocation, or even multiple religious vocations? The faith is lived at home, not just in church.
Families are not only the seedbed of vocations, they are seminaries themselves. The word "seminary" originates from the Latin seminarium, meaning "seed plot" or "plant nursery," and evolved to signify a place for training and development, especially for clergy. When the domestic church in our home’s mirrors Christ’s Church in the Kingdom of Heaven, then something very special happens within that home—the family grows in Christ and in holiness. For example, of those 10,000 canonized saints I just referenced, how many of them grew up on screens? Almost zero. Is there anything to learn from that? How many of them prayed together daily? Which brings me to some suggestions that would help create the possibility of religious vocations within your family, the families of others, and holiness for all. Remember all of us can live these things in our homes, and when we do, we individually and collectively grow in holiness. So, here’s a little list of things we can all participate in even if we don’t have minor children at home.
1. Strive to be holy.
2. End screen time as entertainment. Screens should only be used for needed work, communication, and information. This allows focus and time for responsibilities which are being neglected due to abuse of screens. These responsibilities would include the following below, which are really hard to do when people are on screens all the time, and even harder to soak in when screens are a big part of one’s life.
3. Attend Mass on Sundays and all other Holy Days of Obligation, especially when traveling and when guests are visiting. This witnesses the importance of Christ not only to children but to everyone else as well. The opposite is true too, when we don’t attend Mass because we are traveling or have guests over, then we are telling our children and others that Christ is not number one—our convenience is.
4. Go to Confession monthly as a family.
5. Pray the Rosary daily as a family.
6. Have dinner at the dinner table nightly and begin and end with prayer. You don’t start until everyone is seated and you don’t get up from the table until everyone is finished. Family time.
7. Have spiritual reading for all age levels and talk about what you’re reading. Dinner is a great time to share what you’re reading.
8. Talk freely about the presence of God in the daily joys and sufferings of life. Dinner is a great time for this.
9. Talk about the lives of the saints: how they are the true heroes we should all aspire to be. Dinner is a great time for this.
10. Encourage your children to talk to Jesus all the time; to take all their troubles to Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints in heaven, and their guardian angel.
11. Lead a virtuous life. Be a witness to the love of spouse, children, and neighbor.
12. Participate in the lay ministries and activities of your parish and community.
13. Encourage your children, even adult children if they still can, to consider priesthood and religious life.
Vocations
Religious vocations are the most repeated theme in my pastor’s columns and for good reason: without priests there is no Church. Jesus established the Church on twelve priests—not laymen and not parishes. For better or for worse, the Church rises and falls on the priests—we need them for our salvation. Those men who can and accept the invitation to become priests have a difficult yet blessed life, and we want that great gift for them. The same holds true for consecrated religious as well. Those who can and choose to become one, live a difficult yet blessed life, the grace of which helps all the rest of us immeasurably. We want that great gift for them. We want the grace of their vocations for us too. So, encourage those who can to consider the priesthood and consecrated religious life. The Lord’s invitation to let go of everything and come after Him isn’t reserved for the few but is freely extended to everyone who can.
Here I’ve attached some websites for you to pass along to your children or grandchildren. They are great resources for discernment.
For Males:
Priesthood
Check out these websites if curious about priesthood or monastic life
1. Parish priest – Western Washington – https://archseattle.org/office-ministry/vocation
2. Parish priest – Western Oregon – https://archdpdxvocations.or
3. Dominicans – https://opwest.org. Teaching order.
4. Fathers of Mercy – https://fathersofmercy.com. Conduct parish missions.
5. Marians of the Immaculate Conception – https://marian.org. Different ministries
Monastic Life
1. Mt. Angel Abbey – Mt. Angel, OR – https://www.mountangelabbey.org/monastery/vocations/
2. St. Martin’s Abbey – Lacy WA – https://stmartinsabbey.org//become-a-monk/how-does-one-become-a-monk/
3. Westminster Abbey – Mission, BC. Canada – https://westminsterabbey.ca/vocations/
4. Carmelite Monks of Wyoming – https://www.carmelitemonks.org. Traditional – Latin Mass & prayers.
5. Clear Creek Abbey – Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma – https://clearcreekmonks.org. Traditional – Latin Mass & prayers.
For Females:
Check out this website for contemplative orders https://cloisteredlife.com/director
Check out these websites for active religious orders in the Northwest:
1. Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco – https://salesiansisterswest.org
2. The Nashville Dominicans – https://www.nashvilledominican.org
3. The Religious Sisters of Mercy – https://www.almamercy.org/vocations-1
Check out these websites for active religious orders outside of the Northwest
1. Sisters of Mary – https://www.sistersofmary.org
2. Sisters of Life – https://sistersoflife.org
Finally, I conclude where I began with a word from Anthony Jackson about his vocation. Please hold him and all who in prayer have responded to the Lord’s invitation to let go of family and worldly standing.
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
Anthony and his parents Mark and Barbi.
Anthony Jackson’s Vocation Story
I first began considering monastic life when I was a teenager, but after college I began to pursue that call more seriously. Over time, what had once been a quiet thought became something I felt compelled to discern more intentionally through prayer, reflection, and seeking God’s will.
Over the last 3 years, I spent time learning more about religious life and visiting multiple monastic communities. These visits gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand the rhythm of prayer, work, silence, and community that marks Benedictine life. Through that process, my desire to pursue this vocation deepened.
As part of my discernment and visiting these monasteries, I spent time prayerfully considering where God might be leading me. Each experience helped me grow in clarity about the kind of life I was being called to embrace. Through continued prayer and discernment, I came to the decision to enter St. Martin's Abbey to begin formation in monastic life.
I am deeply grateful for the prayers, encouragement, and support I have received from my parish community throughout this discernment. As I begin this next step, I humbly ask for continued prayers as I seek to follow God faithfully wherever He leads.
May Almighty God Bless You,
Anthony Jackson
