Priest called to nurture vocations

June 2, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

youngstown

As director of vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, the Rev. Chris Luoni said his work centers on helping men understand and come to terms with “a calling from God.”

The full-time position plays a part in the future staffing of the diocese in light of the priest shortage. Father Luoni brings insight and experience to the process of discernment.

And Father Luoni has a new tool to nurture vocations. Bishop George V. Murry named him director of St. Andrew House of Vocational Discernment, opening for the 2012-13 year at Walsh University in Canton.

A brochure on the house, located in La Mennais Hall, notes it “will offer young men a place to discern their life’s vocational calling, with a strong inclination to the diocesan priesthood.” Its purpose “is to offer young men an environment where they can come to understand God’s will and call for their lives.” Residents will live at the house and attend Walsh.

Father Luoni said a recent survey noted an upswing of vocations in men in their 20s and 30s. He reflects that statistic. He committed to the calling in his 30s and was ordained May 28, 2005, when he was 40 years old.

Father Luoni had a successful career in the business world for 11 years. “But I just wasn’t happy with it,” he recalled.

What brought him joy was volunteering at his home church in Canton as an adult leader for the youth group, lector and on parish council. “I loved working with the church,” he said.

“There was a stirring in me ... a call from God,” Father Luoni said. “I just knew.” That was in 1998. In January 1999, he met with a vocational director. “I just knew I had to go into the seminary,” he said.

The diocese has hosted three Andrew dinners in Mahoning, Trumbull and Stark counties for men thinking of the priesthood. In the fall, dinners will be in Ashtabula, Columbiana and Portage counties. “We’ve had a low of five to a high of 14 men who attended. They are as young as high-school age to men in their 30s and 40s,” Father Luoni said.

The diocese has seven men in the seminary and a graduate to be ordained this month; four men have applied to the seminary, five are considering applications and three are interested in St. Andrew House.

At St. Andrew House, Father Luoni said he will “work with each man on a monthly basis to develop goals.” He said the focus is on human, spiritual, academic and pastoral (community service). Good moral character, emotional balance and psychological readiness are cited as qualities applicants should have; Father Luoni said a “good sense of self” also helps.

“It’s about the choices,” Father Luoni said. St. Andrew House residents make a commitment on some level, he added.

Contact Father Luoni at the diocese at 330-744-8451; cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org or on Facebook at St. Andrew House of Discernment.