This past week, the Gospel readings from Sts. Luke and Matthew have recounted Christ's own prayer for vocations: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (Matt 9.37-38, Lk 10.2). Our province is grateful above all to God, the master of the harvest, for the recent abundance in vocations. We are thankful to Fr. Bill Garrott, O.P., who tirelessly worked (and prayed!) for the harvest.

Please keep the new director of vocations, Fr. Benedict Croell, O.P., in your prayers as he carries on this great service for our province and for those who seek guidance and encouragement in their discernment.

And pray for this year's 21 novices!

Born in 1968 in Arizona, Fr. Benedict Croell, O.P., grew up in Colorado as the youngest of nine children in a family that has since grown to include 27 nieces and nephews. Before entering the Order of Preachers, he studied at Colorado State University and Conception Seminary College for the Archdiocese of Denver. He obtained a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Providence College while discerning a vocation to religious life. He entered the novitiate of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 1992, and was ordained a priest in 1998. Fr. Benedict was assigned first to St. Gertrude Church and Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio as associate pastor for four years. In 2002 he was assigned to the Province's Vicariate of Eastern Africa, serving in Kenya for five years. He had the responsibility of being Novice Master in the Vicariate for novices from seven African countries. Returning from the missions, he ministered briefly at the University Church of St. Joseph at New York University before continuing studies in Rome. In June 2010 he completed the License in Sacred Theology (Spiritual Theology) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) where he also served as a chaplain for two years. On 24 June 2010, Fr. Benedict was assigned as the new Director of Vocations for the Province of St. Joseph.