One Spanish bishop has clear ideas about vocations. He is José Manuel Lorca Planes, bishop of Teruel and Albarracín: if a young man in the diocese wants to become a priest, all he has to do is send him an e-mail and speak directly with him (pastoralvocacionalteruel@hotmail.com). He has reminded the youth of the diocese that the Church “needs you, future priests, to build this world of colours and hopes”. In a letter marking Seminary Day celebrated in Spain on 19 March, he emphasises how much “we need witnesses of God’s love and forgiveness, so that the young may discover the beauty of being a priest, spokesman of the Word of God and dispensator of the sacraments of life”. “If you decide [to become a priest] write to me or go to the web page of the Diocese (www.diocesisdeteruel.org), in the Vocational Pastoral section and send an e-mail”, he suggests. In his letter, Bishop Lorca Planes explains to the young that “if this vocational campaign for St. Joseph did not exist it would be necessary to invent it, to gain awareness of the great need for priests”. “You young people know that we live in a chaotic world. Many of you say that this superficial way of living does not satisfy you and that it’s not easy to find a way with alcohol, drugs and an easy and comfortable life”. “Many of you are fed up with this emptiness and have already taken steps to escape from this bondage and seek a more rewarding horizon”.
