Single men invited to learn more about the priesthood

The Diocese of Belleville is holding a meet-and-greet luncheon for single men interested in learning more about the priesthood.

The luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Restaurant.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet seminarians and the diocesan vocations director, the Rev. Nick Junker.

Eight metro-east men are attending seminary school under the sponsorship of the Diocese of Belleville including Steven Paulter, of Evansville, who retired from his corporate job at Xerox Corporation before deciding to become a priest. The journey to the priesthood can take four to eight years to complete.

The Diocese of Belleville needs more priests. In May, the diocese ordained its first priest in four years — Father Brett Judkins. The 29-year-old began his assignment at St. Nicholas Church in O’Fallon and St. Joseph Church in Lebanon on July 12.

The Diocese of Belleville has 49 Diocesan priests and 114 parishes, which means many priests serve more than one parish.

Bishop Edward Braxton has said Judkins will be the only priest ordained this year and no priests will be ordained next year. He encouraged everyone in the diocese to pray for vocations to the priesthood and asked priests and deacons to visit schools and talk about the ministry of priests.

Individuals interested in attending the luncheon are asked to RSVP by Monday to Junker at 618-722-5035 or by e-mail at njunker08@hotmail.com.

The event is free.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Single men invited to learn more about the priesthood."