O'Connell chaplain, Rev. Gregory Thompson, invited several priests to concelebrate this week's school Mass. Our Catholic Schools Week Mass brings us together as a community to pray for vocations in our diocese and around the world.
Joining him yesterday were Father J.D. Jaffe, the director of the Arlington Diocese Vocations Office, and O'Connell alumnus, Father Jack Peterson '81, Assistant Chaplain at Marymount University.
Father Jaffe reminded the students that everyone has a vocation. "Every single one of us was intentionally created by God for a purpose...to better this world."
Father Peterson shared his journey to becoming a priest and Youth Apostle at the end of Mass, too.
"Each student is on a path of discovery of what special role God has for them," said Father Thompson. "Having this opportunity to highlight the importance of discerning a vocation, whether to marriage, priesthood, or consecrated life, helps students to be reminded of the need to actively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in discovering that special role in sanctifying the world."
Pictured above (l to r): Father Jaffe, Father Thompson, Father Peterson, and O'Connell theology and physics teacher Father Michele Benetti.