A few years ago, the Catholic Leadership Institute received a grant to provide ongoing formation support to priests nationwide using a set of tools. We named the support “Called for More,” in the spirit of rekindling among priests just how vital their vocation is and to help them keep striving to grow in healthiness, happiness and holiness.

My good priest friend who has been around the block for a few decades teased me, “Dan, at this point in my life, I’m pretty sure I am being called for less.”

While I still love the name and the spirit behind this service, the words of my priest friend continue to percolate in my mind. He was joking about his retirement that was on the distant horizon and his desire to work less. However, tucked in his humor, I think there is an insight worth considering, no matter how far you are from retirement.

Activity doesn’t equal fruitfulness. I know pastors who still, to this day, don’t have a smartphone and a list of 50,403 ministries in their parish, and yet they are crushing it for the Lord. They are not only beloved by their people but consistently welcome new souls into the Church — some averaging 30 to 40 each year.

As I have thought about these priests, I’ve realized their fruitfulness isn’t because they do less of all things, but more of the most important things. They delegate or discontinue the activities that don’t give them life or give the parish life. They recognize the Pareto principle — that 20% of their efforts ultimately will be where 80% of the fruit comes from — and they try to discipline their days to stretch that 20% to be 25% or 30%. They focus on the things that will bring their people closer to Christ and make new disciples.

Consider a pastor who spends at least eight hours every week preparing his weekend homily, or the priest who spends all Friday in the confessional. Imagine the impact if he hosts a weekly dinner in the rectory for different disciples in his community just to learn about their lives or brings his staff to a Holy Hour every Thursday.

These are not unicorns or imaginary figures. I have met them. I have been to their communities. The fish fries still take place and bingo continues. But these priests are happier and healthier. I believe they — and their communities — are growing in holiness.

I want you to believe that you are called for more. The fire in my soul that propels me to do this work every day is first and foremost my belief in Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and second that his greatest gift to us is the priesthood. You are called for more. But you may be able to be more by doing less, by prioritizing better, and by choosing to choose.

In this new year, with Lent already on the horizon, now might be the time for you to think about how you might be called to less. It’s fashionable (and I believe accurate) these days to describe our ecclesial landscape as a return to “apostolic times.” If that is the case, then you should take comfort in the reality that the earliest disciples didn’t have finance-council agendas, spring festivals or building projects. They simply had a mandate and a promise — to go and make disciples of all nations and to remember that Jesus is with you always. As we begin 2025, you are called to more of that mission, and we are always blessed by it.

DANIEL CELLUCCI is the CEO of Catholic Leadership Institute. His most important vocation is as a husband and father to four children. He lives in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.