A Novice Deepens His Vincentian Calling

“My experiences in Kenya have given me a greater motivation to work for social justice – to ask the questions what can be done and why is this happening,” said Karl Ries, first-year theology student at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA. In June 2011, Karl completed his Novitiate, a year that not only deepened his commitment to serve the poor but also helped affirm his calling to be a Vincentian priest.

During his time in Kenya, Karl’s apostolic work included assisting students at St. Vincent’s Nursery in the Kibera Slum and meeting with small Christian communities in the Mukuru slum. At the nursery, Karl helped prepare meals for the children, cleaning beans and rice and cooking and serving their food. In the classroom, Karl graded students’ writing assignments. Though the language barrier could prove difficult at times, “I always tried to give them my best while helping them with their English,” Karl said.

He also helped others understand Catholic teaching through his work in small Christian communities, which “are essentially the foundation of the parish.” After Sunday Mass, almost 20 people gather in a person’s home, a 10 X 10 hut. Others stand outside to listen as parish leaders share news and pray together. As a novice, Karl led a reflection on the liturgy and guided a question-and-answer session about the Catholic faith.

Karl’s apostolic work gave him a new understanding of poverty. “It is not a lack of things; many people still lived their lives joyously despite some of the horrific conditions in the slums,” he said. Poverty is the inability to break a continuous cycle driven by a lack of education, family circumstances and poor health conditions. This cycle can exist anywhere, not just in Kenya slums, and a good education is at the root of breaking the cycle of poverty, Karl explained. “For many, it is the only way out of their circumstances.” Karl hopes to “motivate others to get involved.” He finds that preaching about and helping others reflect on the liturgy is one way to raise awareness about the need for systemic change.

This shared calling to respond to the needs of the poor helped affirm his vocation to be a Vincentian priest. Living in community, Karl learned that “there are many joys and great times, but there can be challenging times as different people learn to live and work together.” Karl said he grew to appreciate the unique talents of his fellow novices. “The drive to serve the poor helped bring everyone together. We are all working toward the same mission and same end. Although each person’s direction may be a little different, we are of the same mind.”

Please pray for our forty-four seminarians and novices as they develop their prayer and community life in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul.

“In the kingdom of Charity, we should rather suffer some inconvenience ourselves, than inconvenience our neighbor.”