Young men consider: Where are they going?
BELMONT — Dozens of young men from around the Diocese of Charlotte descended upon Belmont Abbey College June 10-14 for the diocese’s annual five-day vocations discernment camp called “Quo Vadis Days.”
The goal of Quo Vadis Days is to challenge young men to ask the fundamental question, “quo vadis,” or “where are you going?” while equipping them with the tools and opportunity to discern God’s will for their life.
Priests and seminarians of the diocese interacted with more than 80 young men during the week-long camp that included talks by clergy, seminarians and others about the vocations to the priesthood, marriage and fatherhood.
The young men also toured the construction site of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly on June 11. The site is located near Belmont Abbey College, where the seminarians pursue their bachelor’s degrees while beginning discernment of a vocation to the priesthood.
Father John Putnam celebrated Mass for the retreat participants June 12 at Mary Help of Christians Basilica in Belmont. He also served as homilist, tailoring his message to the young men, who ranged in age from 15 to 19, as they discern which vocation God may be calling them to in their lives.
During his homily, Father Putnam reflected on the reality and the importance of fatherhood. The saints, he said, show the way by how they sacrificed everything for the Gospel.
“That willingness of sacrifice is something we all need to be aware of,” Father Putnam said. “Because, to some degree, it is part and parcel of manhood. Each of us, whether we know it or not, we want to sacrifice ourselves for something.”
He shared that there are two forms of fatherhood: physical and spiritual.
“Both of them are very important because natural fatherhood impacts how we understand spiritual fatherhood. In both aspects of fatherhood, fidelity and holiness are absolutely essential,” he said.
He stressed that each of them needs to understand that they were made in the image and likeness of God, are a son of God and are beloved of God.
“I hope what each of you gleans during your time at Quo Vadis is that interior desire to spend yourselves in something greater than yourselves,” he said.
Phillip Icard of St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte, 17, is a rising high school senior. This is his second year attending Quo Vadis Days.
“The first year I really wanted to look for a way to cement my faith,” Icard said. “I was a little uneasy about whether I believed in God or not. After the first year, I knew what it meant to be Catholic, so I wanted to come back and grow in my faith even more.”
First-time retreat participant Hayden Raines, 15, is a rising junior. “I’m enjoying the retreat very much. Praying and the Adoration chapel are my two favorite things,” he said.
The retreat has drawn nearly 600 attendees over the past seven years.
“We have a fantastic group of young men here this year,” said Father Jason Barone, diocesan vocations promoter. “I hope they take away not only a lot of useful tools to help them to discern why God has placed them on this earth, but also an experience of fellowship and fraternity with other serious-minded young men who take their faith and their vocation seriously as well.
“I hope that experience is able to stay with them and fortify them, and during their times of difficulties that it helps them become better men – no matter what God has in store for them.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter