Are Our Future Priests Worthy of Your Support?

“To be honest, I have not [previously] experienced any emphasis on prayer or a need for a deep prayer life – or even that we’re all called to be in communion with God. But not only has the Avila High Calling program impressed on us the importance of prayer in the life of a priest…. but as a seminarian I’ve been inspired to pray.”

This is the testimony of a High Calling student, a second-year seminarian, entrusted by his bishop to the Avila Foundation for supplemental formation in prayer, discernment, and solid theology and philosophy.

I share his words so that you can glimpse the profound impact that the Avila High Calling program is having in the lives of future priests. And we’re blessed to report that his testimony is common among the many we’ve been honored to serve in their spiritual needs.

The importance of this work, and the fruit it will bear for the Church, cannot be overstated. The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.

Currently, the majority of the dioceses and religious orders we serve (now 14 of them in the U.S. and Canada) rely on some sort of scholarship from us. Three are mission Dioceses which are counting on us for a full scholarship. Up to this point, with the help of our benefactors, we have been able to accept any diocese that needs our support. But the demand is currently higher than ever before.

For that reason, I am appealing to you out of their needs, and our need to support them. Join us in this mission, and allow us to expand the High Calling program into dioceses that seek this spiritual sustenance. Supporting the High Calling Program is one of the best ways I know of to positively impact the future of the Catholic priesthood in America, their parishioners, and our society.

Will you prayerfully consider supporting our Higher Calling seminarians today?

Your support will directly help renew the state of the priesthood – and the Church – by cultivating well-formed seminarians.

On behalf of the entire Avila team praying for you and your intentions daily, we want to thank you for your tremendous generosity.

In Christ,

Dan Burke

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Dan Burke

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news
network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 90 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 40 dioceses.

Dan is the author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.