By Fr. Hau Vu, Vocations Director
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
– John 15:13
In a recent Friendsgiving event with around 40 discerners, seminarians, and priests, Bishop Rojas stood as a living symbol of Christ among us—a successor of the apostles, called to guide and inspire those in pursuit of God’s will. He looked over the crowd, seeing not only their present selves but the potential future priests, religious, married, and holy single people they might become. He reminded them, as Jesus once reminded His disciples, to be authentic in their lives, in their love, and in their discernment of vocation.
In an age filled with conflicting voices and distractions, Bishop Rojas called for authenticity, encouraging each person to gaze upon the cross of Christ as he did when he was young. He recalled his own childhood in the front pews, staring at the crucified Jesus—the beaten, bloodied image of a Savior who suffered for us. Beneath that cross, he felt the love of Christ poured out on him, shaping him even as a young boy. His parents’ quiet faith, their love for him and for God, was a kind of consecration, gently guiding him toward a path he couldn’t yet imagine.
As he grew and discerned his own call to priesthood, that same image of Christ on the cross came back to him. It reminded him of a love so vast that Jesus would suffer and die for him. And in that love, he found his purpose and his vocation. He now shares this love with each person he encounters, helping others to see the beauty of following God’s call, whatever it may be.
Seeking God’s Will in the Mystery of Life
Bishop Rojas’s message to the discerners was clear: “Do not be afraid. Do not live by the expectations of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of God’s love.” Saint Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This transformation does not happen overnight; it is a journey filled with prayer, reflection, and often, a step into the unknown.
Bishop Rojas encouraged us to embrace that mystery—to lean into the questions and uncertainties, knowing that in that space, we meet God’s truth. And just as Jesus once gazed upon the crowds with compassion, Bishop Rojas looks upon each discerner with the love of a Good Shepherd, one who sees their struggles, their hopes, and their longing to live out God’s will. He reminds us that while we may not have all the answers, we have Christ, who is enough.
A Call to Friendship with Christ
True vocation, Bishop Rojas explained, is rooted in friendship with Christ. “I no longer call you servants,” Jesus said, “but friends” (John 15:15). Friendship with Christ means knowing His heart, sharing in His love, and being willing to lay down our own lives in service to God’s people. Bishop Rojas shared that his own vocation grew from this friendship—a deep, abiding love that only grows through time, commitment, and surrender.
For those discerning the priesthood, religious life, or any vocation, this friendship with Christ is foundational. Just as we grow in love and understanding with a friend, so must we grow in intimacy with God. We must allow ourselves to be loved by Him, for “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).
Embracing the Cross with Faith
The cross that Bishop Rojas looked upon as a child is the same cross that we are invited to carry in our own lives. To love as Christ loved means to embrace sacrifice and to see our trials as pathways to holiness. Saint Peter reminds us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet, we do not face these challenges alone. Christ’s love empowers us, sustains us, and calls us forward in faith.
Bishop Rojas’s episcopal motto, “God’s love is all you need,” speaks to this truth. God’s love is enough. It is what sustains priests, religious, and married couples. It is what brings joy and peace, even in the midst of challenges. And it is what we must hold onto, especially in moments of doubt or fear. The love of God is the answer, the anchor, and the path forward.
(Holy Name of Jesus discerners, Seminarian Michael Poulin, Fr. Arinze Ezeoke, Bishop Rojas)
A Prayer for Discerners
For those discerning their vocation, Bishop Rojas’s words remind us to trust in God’s guidance and to seek His will with courage and authenticity. Whether the call is to priesthood, religious life, marriage, or the single life, let us pray that each person may find beauty in surrender, joy in sacrifice, and peace in knowing that God walks this journey with them.
May we live each day in God’s love, embracing the path He has laid before us, confident that with Him, we have all we need.
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