During my time in formation to be a Holy Cross brother, one of the priests I frequently went to for Confession regularly assigned me the penance to pray in gratitude for my vocation. Even though I came to expect it, I always found it a powerful practice to rekindle my faith and my zeal for my vocation. Taking intentional time in my prayer to think of the many ways being a Holy Cross brother has been a blessing to me and giving thanks to God for each of them helped open my eyes to how God was working in my life.
Sometimes the life of full-time ministry causes me to go for significant lengths of time without intentionally thanking God for my vocation. I spend time in prayer, but often the kind of prayer I need is a prayer of silence and emptying rather than one of reflection and gratitude. God, though, breaks through my routines and sends reminders of how blessed I am to be living this vocation.
Earlier this month, God did just that for me, in the form of 1000 balloons.
Birthdays are not my favorite, and I’m not particularly good at remembering other people’s birthdays, probably in part to the low importance I place on celebrating my own. But this year, God used my birthday as a chance to remind me of how grateful I am for my vocation as a Holy Cross brother. One of my friends and co-workers organized the preparation of around 1000 balloons to be gathered into my office as a surprise for my birthday. This involved the contribution of dozens of students… and had the effect of making it impossible to pretend it wasn’t my birthday!
The birthday notes, the students stopping by to say happy birthday, and the messages from my brothers in Holy Cross all made for blessed reminders of the great gift of my vocation. I am grateful to be at King’s College, a Holy Cross College in Pennsylvania, which has welcomed me into my first experiences of full-time ministry. I am grateful for the students, faculty, and staff who have welcomed me into their lives as a brother. I am grateful for the gift of our Holy Cross community both near and spread out throughout the world which has reminded me of God’s love for me. I am grateful for my religious vows which free me to share myself as brother to those I work and live among. I thank God for my vocation as a Holy Cross brother.
Sometimes God sends us reminders of his presence and activity in our lives. It isn’t always in the form of 1000 balloons, but this time, I’m grateful it was.
Brother Jimmy Henke, C.S.C.
Published on March 4, 2025
