The Catholic Standard and Times

The priesthood: ‘You have to
grow into these shoes’

By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

Father Christopher B. Rogers was a fifth-grader the first time he proclaimed he wanted to be a priest.

He did so through a report he was required to read aloud to his class at St. Jerome School in Northeast Philadelphia. [Read Father Rogers’ fifth-grade report on page 27].

“The teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote down that I wanted to be a priest. I always knew I wanted to be a priest, but there was a great hesitancy in telling other people,” he said. Young Christopher was alarmed when the teacher told the students to read their assignments aloud — not only their responses to the question, but the reasons behind their responses.

“I was mortified. It was the only time I told the teacher, ‘No.’”

Christopher quickly considered changing what he had written on his paper. “I couldn’t. I had the homework in front of me. I wasn’t too happy with that. I could tell you right now who was sitting around me in that classroom all those years ago.”

He read the report and, as best as he can recall more than two decades later, nobody ridiculed him. “I thought they would laugh.”

Although resolute about what he wanted to be when he grew up, Christopher would thereafter remain close-mouthed whenever he was asked the question. “After that experience, it was something I always kept to myself. But, I still knew that God wanted me to be a priest.”

Now 32 years old, Father Rogers was ordained a priest five years ago. He entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood in 1991, the same year he graduated from Bishop McDevitt High Schoolin Wyncote. He was 18 years old.

This past June, Cardinal Justin Rigali appointed Father Rogers director of the Archdiocese’s Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood, located on the campus of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Up until that time, Father Rogers had served as parochial vicar of SS. Philip and James in Exton, and was the priest vocation coordinator for the Chester County Vicariate. He is currently in residence at Annunciation B.V.M. parish in Havertown.

Given Father Rogers’ devotions to the Blessed Mother and Pope John Paul II, it was providential that Cardinal Rigali summoned him to his office to appoint him vocation director on May 13, the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, and the 24th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.

“I was in Pittsburgh and had just begun driving home. My cell phone rang on the turnpike. I pulled over on the shoulder.”

He arrived at the Cardinal’s office at 4 p.m.

“I was surprised, humbled and honored,” Father Rogers said.

Father Rogers said he thanked the Cardinal, but thought he was too young for the job. He pointed out that he had only been ordained five years and had only had one assignment.

He said the Cardinal reassured him he was aware of those facts, but considered two aspects of the of the assignment vital — that the vocation director be someone who is young and joyful.

Father Rogers brings to the vocation office extensive experience working with the young at SS. Philip and James. Among other duties at the parish, he was assigned to lead a Holy Hour at the parish chapel on Monday evenings for teens of the vicariate. “When young people are presented with the Eucharist [and] the basic truths of our faith, they really do respond,” Father Rogers said.

Through the Holy Hour, “I saw the power of the Eucharist touch hearts and radiate hope to young people.” Four men who have participated in the Holy Hour, which began in April 2004 at SS. Philip and James and continues today, enrolled at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary this fall.

“My intention was not to get vocations, but vocations came about as young people spent time before Jesus in the Eucharist,” Father Rogers said. “A daily Holy Hour puts everything in its proper perspective.”

He said his role as development director is “to encourage young men to consider the bigger picture of life —that God created them for a purpose — and, discovering that purpose, living it to the full is what brings happiness.”

As director of the vocation office, Father Rogers visits one of the Archdiocese’s 274 parishes every weekend, preaching Masses and delivering talks to youth groups.

He is also a priestly presence at various youth-related events across the Archdiocese. Father Rogers said he is encouraged by the work of the Archdiocese’s Office for Youth and Young Adults, particularly their evangelization endeavors.

The main message he conveys to Catholic youth and young adults he meets is the Church’s “tremendous need for priests.”

Young men who immediately rule out a vocation to the priesthood might want to reconsider as they contemplate their reply to this question: “Christ Jesus is for you; how are you going to be a man for others?” Father Rogers said.

Young men who are on the fence would be wise to remember that “it’s God who chooses us,” Father Rogers said. “Continue to be open, continue to ask Jesus what he thinks about your life, and your vocation.”

In May 2001, a year after his ordination, Father Rogers was quoted in a CS&T story, saying that being ordained a priest “is like putting on a new pair of shoes. For the rest of your life, you have to grow into these shoes.”

If he had to answer the call to the priesthood again, Father Rogers said he would do so without reservation. His knowledge and appreciation of the priesthood has grown in the five years that have passed since ordination day: “I’ve had the privilege to see the effect the priesthood has on people. Whether it’s through the Eucharist or [other] sacraments, or just being the presence that the priest brings, it’s clearer to me that the priest really does represent Christ. Bringing Christ to others is the gift the priest can give.”

Fifth-grade boys of the present day who might feel as awkward as young Christopher Rogers did about telling others they want to be a priest when they grow up should fear not, Father Rogers said. The priesthood “might seem like a strange idea, or feel embarrassing, but it’s a personal gift from God, regardless of what other people think. He will provide for it.

“It’s a gift that grows,” he said. “You begin to learn more what it’s about, and you see how God gives the initial gift of a vocation, but then the pieces and the graces do come together in time.”

For information about priesthood discernment, including upcoming programs and retreats, contact Father Christopher B. Rogers, Vocation Director for Diocesan Priesthood, at 610-667-5778, or e-mail frcrogers@adphila.org. Visit the Web site www.scs.edu/vocation/vocation.html.

CS& T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine can be reached at cchicoin
@adphila.org or (215) 587-2468.