The purpose of the Vocation Committee is to inspire and assist our community in fulfilling its mission of fostering vocations, especially to ordained ministry and religious life. There are three major goals for Vocation Awareness that have been set out by the Diocese. They are:
- To create vocation awareness in our parish.
- To promote a campaign of prayer for vocations.
- To invite individuals personally to consider a church vocation.
The underlying principles of Vocation Awareness are:
- Each of us is called by God to participate in Jesus' mission.
- There is a rich variety of calls given by God.
- All lifestyles are needed for the sake of God's people.
- To be a brother, sister or priest can be an exciting life of service. Priesthood and religious life are for healthy, happy and energetic men and women.
- Sisters, priests and brothers are ordinary people who don't claim to be perfect, but desire to be of service in how they live or work.
Prayer must be the foundation of our work to promote vocations in our parish. All parishioners are asked to pray for vocations. Some suggestions of how to pray are:
- Personal prayer: Make prayer for vocations part of your personal prayer. Consider using the following prayer, or watch the parish Bulletin for other examples of prayers: Loving God, You speak to us and nourish us through the life of this church community. In the name of Jesus, we ask you to send your Spirit to us so that men and women among us, young and old, will respond to your call to service and leadership in the church. We pray, especially, in our day, for those who hear your invitation to be a priest, sister or brother. May those who are opening their hearts and minds to your call be encouraged and strengthened through our enthusiasm in your service. Amen.
- Vocation Cross Program: This is a program that could be organized throughout the parish where each week a family takes home the Vocations Cross to pray for vocations every day of that week.
- Votive Mass for Vocations
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: This is one of the best ways to pray for vocations! More information about Eucharistic Adoration at our parish may be found here.
- Prayers of the Faithful
- Parish Prayer Groups: We can include a prayer for vocations in our Small Christian Communities.
For more information, please call the Rectory office at 510-526-4811.