On February 1, 2025, Bishop John McDermott sent a letter to priests of the Diocese of Burlington. In the letter he addresses the need for a spiritual reorganization and requested priests to take four actions to help achieve this.
“As the Diocese undergoes its administrative reorganization through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it has been on my heart to share that, while our administrative reorganization is necessary, it is even more important that we consider a ‘spiritual reorganization.’ St. Paul reminds us that ‘our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world ruler of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in heaven’ (Eph 6:12). I am convinced that our greatest challenge as a diocese and as a presbyterate is spiritual and not financial and so we must remember that we are called to holiness of life. With this in mind, I am asking that we accept a call to greater prayer and sacrifice to set an example for one another and the people we serve.”
The four requests that Bishop McDermott outlined are as follows:
- “Along with the traditional days of fast and abstinence we observe in the liturgical year, I am inviting all priests of the Diocese of Burlington to observe every Wednesday as a day of fasting.”
- “I am asking that we increase our time of daily prayer by 15 minutes on Wednesdays before the Blessed Sacrament, if possible, for the specific intention of our personal sanctification, the sanctification of our parishioners and priestly vocations in Vermont.”
- “I also wish us to return to the observance of the traditional Ember Days during the liturgical year. These four three-day periods of fasting, abstinence, and prayer, tied to the four seasons and liturgical observances, will challenge us all to do with less worldly comfort and to rely more fully on God. The Ember Days in 2025 fall on March 12, 14, 15; June 11, 13, 14; September 24, 26, 27; and December 17, 19, 20.”
- “I am asking that throughout the Diocese of Burlington we pray together for vocations at the conclusion of the General Intercessions at all Masses for the Sunday obligation. We need to cry out to God that more men and women accept the call to labor in the ‘vineyard’ as priests and consecrated women and remind our people that this petition must be sought by all the faithful. I am instructing that we begin this diocesan vocation prayer on the First Sunday of Lent, March 8-9, 2025. I also encourage this prayer to be prayed at daily Masses.”
Bishop McDermott ended his letter with the statement “In a world that is in search for answers, our witness will hopefully lead others to know what we know, that ‘God alone suffices!’” Parishioners are invited to take on these actions as well and support their priests in their efforts.
Additionally, Bishop McDermott invites the faithful to pray for an increase of priestly vocations in the diocese, and for an enthusiastic response to all vocational callings:
Heavenly Father,
You have created us for a definite purpose.
Grant us the grace to know the path you have planned for all of us in this life
and to respond with a generous ‘yes.’
May men respond courageously to Your call to be good and holy priests.
May women accept trustingly in Your call to consecrated life.
Bless us with devoted deacons, holy marriages and strong families.
We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Through this spiritual reorganization, it is Bishop McDermott’s hope that the Diocese of Burlington more fully and enthusiastically embraces Christ’s call to evangelize the world – by our faith, our joy, and our example.
