After lunch, a group of Catholic teens en­circled a young semi­narian in a black cassock, listening as he ex­plained something about forms of worship.

The young men nodded, looking up at the 25-year-old with the bright eyes of eager students.

Outside, a handful of priests and three dozen young men ages 15 to 25 played a kinetic game of ul­timate Frisbee on the lawn of Mount St. Mary's Semi­nary.

Just an hour before, both groups were packed into chapel for Mass, where their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, put a question to them: Quo vadis?

That's Latin for "Where are you going?"

That query is at the core of this camp in Em­mitsburg, Md., -- a time for young men from the Di­ocese of Harrisburg to learn about the priesthood and how to discern wheth­er God is calling them to it.

"It's time to reflect on your vocation . . . that call­ing God has had for us since he formed us in our mother's womb," Rhoades told the campers at Mass last week.

"For many of you, it will be mar­riage. For many of you it will be priesthood."

For the second year in a row, registration for the camp filled to capacity at 100 and carried a waiting list of men from around the 15-county diocese.

The Rev. Raymond LaVoie, diocesan director of vocations, has seen the fruits of the four-year-old camp in the growing number of young men ap­plying to be candidates for seminary study, he said.

About 70 percent of di­ocese's 15 applicants last year participated in Quo Vadis Days, as did at least five of this year's potential applicants.

His goal is to bring more men into the dioce­san seminary program an­nually than the diocese ordains as priests. This year, it ordained only one, the Rev. Mark Speitel, 44, of Lancaster.

Next year, a graduating class of four is expected for ordination to the priest­hood, including Keith Carroll, 27, of North Codorus Town­ship, now a student at Mount St. Mary's; and Paul J. Theisz, 60, whose home parish is St. John the Baptist in New Freedom.

LaVoie attributes the in­creased interest to prayers of the faithful throughout the di­ocese.

"There's an awareness among the lay people to sup­port and encourage priestly vocations," LaVoie said. "Plus, our seminarians are good, quality men that attract other young men. Some were valedictorians of their class. Others, lettermen in sports."

He and other priests also credit the example of Rhoades, 51, who made foster­ing vocations a priority when he came to Harrisburg in 2004.

At that time, the diocese had 11 seminarians and some years when no one applied. Now, it has 27 seminarians with several more going through the application proc­ess.

"I think every young Cath­olic should consider it to see if God is calling him," Rhoades said in an interview.

He added, "There's no heavy pressure."

Indeed, the last thing Rhoades wants is a young man to become a priest when God called him elsewhere, he said.

Nationwide, new priests are sorely needed. The number of U.S. Catholics con­tinues to rise as the roster of priests falls. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, there are about 42,300 priests today (including those retired and inactive) -- 26 percent fewer than 40 years ago.

In the Harrisburg diocese, the number of priests is down 25 percent since 1972 to 186.
In that same period, the pop­ulation in the diocese grew 29 percent to 245,622 Catholics.

Observers say things could get worse. The church has seen a nationwide decline in ordinations -- about 400 this year, compared with 944 in 1965 -- and the current population of priests is aging and retiring (the median age of di­ocesan priests is in the 50s).

The Harrisburg diocese has 38 retired priests, many of whom continue to assist a va­rious parishes when needed. Rhoades said he likes the Quo Vadis camp model be­cause it combines the prayer­friendly component of a re­treat, the fellowship of young men with seminarians and recreational fun.

Some campers said they've never met a priest younger than 50 until Quo Vadis Days.
Often, they're surprised to learn the clerics can play soccer, go to the movies -- even wear shorts.

The priests and seminari­ans who run the five-day event said they get questions about their decision to pursue the priesthood and the day-to-day life of a parish pastor.

"The biggest question I get is how do you know God's calling you to be a priest?"
said the Rev. Josh Brommer, 28, a Columbia native sun­burned from four hours of soccer.

"I tell them prayer. You are never going to know what the lord wants for your life unless you're in constant con­tact with him.

Other campers have more practical inquiries: How can a man give up seemingly eve­rything joyful the world has to offer and still be happy?

"A lot of them are happy with what they're doing and just always cheerful," ob­served camper Christopher Frye, 15, of Penn Township.

Christopher, a 10th-grader at Delone Catholic High School, first considered the priesthood when he was 10. He hasn't made up his mind whether God is calling him and he thought Quo Vadis Days might help.

Zach Rayne, 17, of New Freedom knows he's headed to seminary, having been mentored by a young priest since middle school.

"I just feel a sense of being myself whenever I'm praying or meditating," said the recent Susquehannock High School graduate. He starts an 18-month Catholic career institute program in the fall.

John Paul Caprasecca, 17, of Windsor Township isn't as sure about his future.
He attended the camp be­cause "I wanted some an­swers," John Paul said. "I wanted some insight." John Paul believes he's meant to go to seminary but uncertain about the priest­hood.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I've always pictured myself as being the biological father of a child and having a wife. It's hard to give that up. I feel pulled in both direc­tions."

Of course, not everyone who goes to seminary will be ordained, LaVoie notes. The discernment process is about just that -- discernment.

"Some get to see the priesthood a little bit closer and after seeing it realize that they're not called to it," he said.

"That can be joyful for them, knowing they're no longer wrestling with it."