Called to Be Fishers of Men

by Fr. John Granato  |  01/25/2026  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

Today's Gospel passage from St. Matthew is the call of the two sets of brothers as Apostles, St. Peter and St. Andrew, and St. John and St. James. These four apostles are fishermen, and Jesus says to them that he will make them fishers of men. A fisher of men means that Jesus is giving authority to his followers to preach the good news and to heal the sick. The same authority he gave to the apostles is the same authority he gives to his priests.

Today, his priests are still called to preach the good news, to cast out demons, to heal the sick and to celebrate the sacraments. Jesus reminds us as well to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, and to visit those in prison. I will be celebrating 20 years a priest in a few months. It has been and continues to be a rewarding vocation. Studies show that an overwhelming majority of priests are happy in their vocation.

For me, to celebrate Mass every day, to hear confessions, to anoint the sick, to baptize infants and adults, to witness marriages and to preach the gospel are powerful testimonies to the power of Christ. Today is also the conversion of St. Paul, but since it is a Sunday, it is not celebrated liturgically. St. Paul heard the voice of Jesus

Christ and was transformed and became one of the great apostles. These five apostles, Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew, James and John, were open to the call of Jesus Christ and gave their lives to spreading the gospel. All of us are called to be open to the voice of Jesus Christ. We have been praying for vocations to the priesthood. I encourage all young men to be open to the possibility that God is calling you to this beautiful and rewarding vocation.

God bless!