MOUNT VERNONBY ARMANDO MACHADO

Several dozen people attended a special Mass in celebration of the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Church in Mount Vernon on Monday, July 29. It was part of the second annual “Pedaling the Priesthood” effort.

Father Bryan Dolejsi, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle, and Father Gary Zender, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Renton, are on a three-day, 150-mile bike ride from Blaine to Renton to promote vocations to the priesthood from July 29-31.

The Spanish/English Mass Monday night was followed by a light dinner and presentation on “Promoting Vocations In Your Parish.” An update was also given on the 31 seminarians of the archdiocese.

Among the attendees were Diane Seward and her son Andrei, 13. “This is my only child,” she said. “This was inspiring.”

“Yes, I want to be a priest when I’m older,” Andrei said, adding that he decided on that vocation three years ago at age 10. After the presentation, mother and son talked with Father Zender, who said it was at age 5 that he began thinking about the priesthood.

During his presentation, Father Dolejsi said there are three main things that Catholics can do to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life: pray about it, invite youth and young people to consider it, and contribute to the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Father Doljesi said he has been talking with about 35 young men in the archdiocese who are discerning the priesthood. He said there is an active effort to promote the priesthood in Western Washington as older priests look toward retirement.

Father Zender, 55, and Father Doljesi, 38, both reside in the rectory at St. Anthony’s in Renton. “We bike together quite a bit; we have a couple of road bikes,” Father Doljesi said.

The two priests are scheduled to bike to St. Mary Magdalen Church in Everett for a 6 p.m. Mass July 30 followed by the same presentation. The ride is set to end Wednesday, July 31, with a 6 p.m. Spanish/English Mass followed by a potluck presentation at St. Anthony Church in Renton.

July 30, 2013