By Bill Barrett
Bishop-designate Bob Gruss was our diocese’s first full-time vocations director for the Diocese of Davenport and today, July 28, he becomes bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City, S.D. We thank him for his leadership and support in the promotion, support and encouragement of all religious vocations.
Then we had the energetic and much spirited leadership of Father Marty Goetz, who has been leading the charge for religious vocations in the Davenport Diocese for the last four years. He has done an exemplary job with his connections to the high school and elementary school students. Hundreds attend the youth rally each year in the Iowa City area.
Fr. Goetz has had activities at all grade levels for students throughout the whole diocese on a regular basis. He also has set up holy hours for vocations throughout the diocese for the last couple of years. His love and excitement for serving the Lord is certainly evident in everything he does. His enthusiasm is contagious and he has planted seeds of vocations for many generations to come. We want to thank Fr. Goetz for his years of dedicated service and hard work!
And on Aug. 1 we welcome Father Thom Hennen in his new endeavor as vocations director for the Davenport Diocese. Thank you for the good work of these great priests and all who serve in the Lord’s vineyard.
Have you personally asked anyone you think might have the qualifications for a vocation whether that individual has considered serving God in a special way? It’s not just the responsibility of the vocations director to promote vocations; it is the job of each and every one of us to keep the faith alive. Ask someone this week.
(Bill Barrett is president of the Serra Club of Davenport.)
