By Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD   St. Francis of Assisi once said that if he met an angel and a priest at the same time, he would greet the priest first. This is because he is the representative of Christ himseIf. He has power that angels and the most powerful civil rulers do not possess. * * * The humblest priest by his word can convert bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, he can absolve a penitent from his sins in confession, thus, help him obtain eternal salvation. * * * Today is GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY. It focuses on the call or vocation of spiritual shepherds in the Church like bishops, priests, lay brothers, and nuns. The call of God is not necessarily dramatic or extraordinary like that of Saul who was a fierce persecutor of the early Christians but later became Paul, the greatest and most zealous missionary of God. * * * Today the call of a spiritual vocation can be casual or totally unexpected. One young man, for instance, who is now a priest said that he was challenged to enter the seminary by the inspiring talk of a visiting missionary working in Africa. Another relates that he entered a religious congregation through a crumpled brochure which he picked up from a trash can. He later kidded: “I got my vocation from the basura.” * * * Let me cite some practical ways how to attract young men to join the priesthood as shared by our listeners and viewers of our Sunday DZMM teleradyo program “Salitang Buhay” 9 p.m.: * * * Family influence is very crucial. Religious vocation comes from a family that’s prayerful and God-loving. Parents of a family I know inculcated their children to pray together as a family the Angelus and the holy rosary. Out of the six children, one became an SVD priest, the other a Jesuit, and a sister became a Good Shepherd nun. The other three siblings became exemplary married couples. * * * A second effective way of promoting a religious vocation is exposure of the youth to the life of priests or missionaries. When I was in high school, I regularly served at Mass as sacristan. Seeing the diligence, simplicity, and cheerfulness of the SVD foreign and Filipino missionaries in Or. Mindoro, I was attracted and eventually joined their ranks. * * * Other ways of knowing more about the religious vocation are: Vocation Promotion Programs held in parishes or dioceses like the Vocation Congress, Search-Ins in some seminaries. In today’s world prayer day for religious vocations, let us also ENCOURAGE and SUPPORT young men and women who have the desire to follow Christ. * * * There’s no stressing the pivotal role of parents and family members. If the parents have the right attitude in supporting and encouraging their children, then they become the effective channel whereby God’s call and grace will flow. But God cannot do much if parents block the divine call. * * * Finally, one who is interested to enter the religious life, may get in touch with any priest or nun or a vocation director/directress. So, young men and women, ALL THE BEST! * * * THE LIGHTER SIDE. A handsome young priest in the parish is especially popular with the high school students. One morning while waiting for the Mass to start, a pair of 14-year-old girls were seated up front. When Father walked up to the altar, there was an audible sigh from one of the girls. “Forget it,” whispered her companion. “Remember, he’s cellulite” (celibate).