b'Father Patrick McDaid, SM,PHOTO: ROBIN JERSTADcelebrates his 25th year as a professed Marianist.began with an inkling. As an altar server in the fourth 25th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversaries, jubilees aregrade, I remember looking over the railing at our happy occasions.parish priest while he was saying Mass and thinking: The overriding sentiment, palpable at these celebra-I could see myself doing that. But it would take many tions, is gratitude. Tears of joy, laughter and story-more spiritual nudgings from God, his Marianist friends telling animate jubilee festivities. They also offer theand other vowed religious to fully awaken his reli- jubilarians a place to reflect publicly on their lives ofgious calling. This year he celebrates 25 years as a ministry and the tremendous spiritual and emotionalprofessed Marianist. growth they have experienced on their way to inhab-Each year, Marianist Family members and friends iting a Marianist life.gather to honor men like Fathers Jim and Pat duringjubilee celebrations25, 50, 60, even 70 years of Growing into a vocation: faithful service to the Society of Mary and Marys A lifetime in the makingmission. At special jubilee Masses held across the It takes a community to support a religious vocation,country this past year, 13 men celebrated the anniver- says Marianist Father Mike Nartker, 70, who is cele-saries of their professions of first vows as a Marianist brating his 25th year of priestly ministry. Even afterBrother and four honored their sacerdotals, the year I was ordained, I was still a long time in the makingthey were ordained into the priesthood.a community project, he says with a laugh. ButAt the jubilees, each Marianist publicly renews his Ive had a lot of good people to turn to, like Marianistvows and commits, once more, to lay down his indi- Father George Cerniglia, my Marianist spiritual directorsvidual desires and aspirations to better love and serve and others, who have supported my growth.Gods people. Renewing their vows in public is partly Father Mike describes the special bonds that formdone as a witness to younger people and a way of in community, especially while cooking and sharingdemonstrating a good example, says Marianist evening meals. Its more than just eating; its theBrother Stephen Glodek. Like couples who celebrate sharing, the listening and having someone listen tomarianist.com/donate 13'