Church of the Incarnation

Lenten Parish Mission   February 28^th – March 3^rd, 2010

Intercessors of the Lamb     Father Francis &   Brother Anthony

“Hi, my name is Father Francis Dominic.  I was ordained to the priesthood this year on the Feast of Pentecost – June 3, 2006! My initial awareness of a call to religious life came about from a Steubenville conference.  I was in high school at the time and my folks made me go.  A couple things happened at the conference.  First, was I saw priests who were excited about their relationship with Jesus Christ!  I could tell by the way they preached and shared that they weren’t ashamed of the Gospel and were in love with God!  They had intimacy with the Lord.  I also noticed their love for the Church and God’s people.  The second thing that took place was an experience of the Holy Spirit’s love power.  I came away from the conference not just knowing about Jesus Christ from text books, but that He was alive in me—and He began to be my best friend. After the conference I felt drawn to religious life, but my fears of what friends thought, and my distorted image of what religious life—or priesthood was like (I thought Boring!) convinced me to push the idea aside.  I did so for some seven years. In 1995 I began studies for the Priesthood with some great folks in the Diocese of Nashville.  I was in seminary for two years.  During the entire second year I felt the Lord calling me to something different than Diocesan Priesthood.  So when I could I visited religious orders and communities to see what their charisms and spiritualities were like.  A good friend of mine arranged a retreat for me with the Intercessors of the Lamb.  I had not heard of the Intercessors before, but evidently they were known for solid discernment retreats—that’s what I needed!   The charism, spirituality, and lifestyle the Lord had been placing on my heart—I saw being lived in the Intercessors of the Lamb.  With a Lamb of God spirituality, the Intercessors are a contemplative/charismatic community, devoted to our Lady, with their hearts centered on living Jesus and His Cross to take away sins—intercession.  My heart had found its home. And you bet, the Teal was cool too!  I joined the community in 1997.    Our truest joy and fulfillment in life is found in our Father’s plan for us.  What’s on your heart today?  The answers to our vocations are within our hearts.  Keep asking—listen to your heart.  Be sincere and honest with the Lord and He will answer you.  Much peace!”