Archpastoral Message of
The Most Reverend DANIEL
Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest
for the Annual Seminarian Appeal 2024
September 1, 2024 – Beginning of the Liturgical Year
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:10)
Beloved Sons and Daughters in Christ,
When he was young, the prophet Samuel heard the voice of the Lord calling him at night. When he heard the voice of the Lord, calling to him, he supposed that it was Eli, the priest of Shiloh, his mentor. So, he got up from his bed and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.” Eli told him to return to bed. This happened not just once, but three times. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:8-11).
Samuel’s unique encounter with the Lord God was in fact the call he received to serve the Lord as a prophet. It was his vocation. Samuel’s prophetic vocation was so unique during this period of history in Israel, that Saint Peter reverently refers to Samuel as the first of the prophets (Acts 3:24). Samuel’s prophetic ministry is also notable because it begins at a time when words from the Lord were rare and infrequent. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. (1 Samuel 3:1). Beginning with Samuel, Israel’s history comes alive with prophetic revelation. The young man who was called by the Lord became not only a prophet, but also judge a wise leader in Israel, and a servant of God’s people.
The call of Samuel was uniquely his, and unique to the role he played in the history of Israel and in God’s salvific plan. However, every one of us who follows Christ has also received a special call, a unique vocation. The Lord calls each of us by name (Isaiah 43:1) to serve Him and His Church, in many and various ways. Although we exercise our vocations differently, we all share the same call: to proclaim the Gospel, to participate in Christ’s salvific plan, and to serve Christ and His Holy Church..
In our beloved and God-protected Diocese of the Midwest, the month of September is dedicated to raising awareness of the specific vocation given to those who have been called to ordained ministry. We now pause and give thanks for those who have already received this call, especially for the priests and deacons serving in our parishes. And we also look to the future, praying that the Lord will send more workers into His harvest, and seeking support for those who are, even now, preparing for ordination to the Holy Priesthood, that is, our own diocesan seminarians.
I commend to your prayers and ask your sincere support for the men from throughout our Diocese who are currently enrolled in the seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America: Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. These seminarians come from our own parish communities, they are your sons, brothers, relatives, and friends. They have heard the voice of the Lord Who has called them, each hearing this call in their own particular way. This may have occurred through your personal encouragement, by something you said or did which first inspired them to think about the possibility of serving Christ by offering their lives in service to the Church. And, responding to that call, they are now preparing themselves, through prayer, theological studies, and pastoral service, to take their future place as shepherds, caring for the flock of Christ.
Our diocesan seminarians and their families make many personal sacrifices and face many challenges in order to achieve their goal, a goal that includes serving each one of us. A significant majority of our seminarians are married and have families; their wives and children must sacrifice along with them. Just as each one of us needs the support of our clergy, our fellow parishioners and of our own Orthodox communities, so, too, do the diocesan seminarians need our support so that they may one day stand at the Holy Altar. Your support will allow them to preach the Gospel, celebrate the Holy Mysteries of our Orthodox Faith, be present in our time of need, offer counsel and provide consolation. They need our prayers, as we need theirs. The seminarians and their families also need our financial support.
As we raise awareness for the needs of our seminarians, the Diocese of the Midwest promotes a project known simply as “Support our Seminarians.” During this month of September, I invite each parish community and every individual to join me in praying that Our Merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Lord of the Harvest, will grant our Diocese and Church more vocations to the Priesthood. I also ask you to join me in generously contributing to our Seminarians’ Fund, thus showing our appreciation and support for these dedicated and faithful workers in the Lord’s Own Vineyard.
Invoking the Lord’s blessing upon you, your families, and loved ones, I remain
Yours in Christ,
+DANIEL
Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest
