Kristina Valente, Author at Brooklyn Priests

24 Jul Celibacy and Fatherhood

Posted at 12:34h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

Celibacy isn't just about "not having sex." There's an aspect of celibacy that is more important for a man to consider when discerning the priesthood: the inclination to natural fatherhood. Healthy men usually have a natural inclination to want children. They are, after all, one of...

21 Jun Dating and Discernment

Posted at 12:30h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

There are lots of charming Catholic women who want to get married to a good Catholic man. The problem is, when a man feels called to marriage, all these women go into hiding. But when a young man begins to discern a vocation to the...

26 May Mom, Dad, I Have Great News

Posted at 14:07h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

Ask most seminarians, and they can remember the precise moment when they told their parents they felt called to the priesthood. Some received overwhelming support right away. Some encountered raised eyebrows. And some found themselves having to defend their decision against Mom or Dad's vehement opposition. Once...

20 Apr Christian Poverty

Posted at 14:50h in Uncategorized, Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

“How I long for a poor Church for the poor!” Pope Francis voiced this urgent desire shortly after his election, and much of his papacy has been devoted to encouraging the Church to live Christian poverty. But what exactly is Christian poverty? The Holy Father questioned...

27 Mar Missionaries of the New Evangelization

Posted at 17:28h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

God is calling you to be a missionary. He is calling you to leave behind what may be familiar to you and boldly proclaim the Gospel to everyone you meet. But He may be calling you to do this without going anywhere! This is because every Catholic...

16 Dec God Equips Those He Calls

Posted at 14:01h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

“Without question, I have spent more time helping Carla than any other person during my priesthood,” says Fr. Joe Hirsch, a priest from Wisconsin. “I remember the first time I saw her. I was working as a high school chaplain, and saw a timid 14-year-old girl...

14 Nov What Will You Do With Your Life?

Posted at 17:58h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

As part of discerning your vocation, meditate on this powerful passage from British Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville. If you are wondering what to do with your life, if you feel you want to do something really great with it, if you don’t want to fall into a...

28 Oct Two Things To Do While You’re Discerning

Posted at 17:13h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

For years, Jacob has thought about being a priest. Sometimes it has been just a passing thought. A few times, especially during Mass, it’s been a very strong attraction. And sometimes—especially when he is dating—the thought seems to be altogether absent. Jacob’s experience is actually very...