Encouraging Vocations

Long before birth, God plants a dream deep within each person that will grow into a longing to make a difference in the world. Our response to the dream is our vocation from God. It is a gift from God to live and celebrate with joy.

Like Samuel, some people may have a call to the religious life, but are unable to hear or understand at first what the Lord is asking. Many young people today are looking for guidance and encouragement as they explore all the wonderful opportunities to live as a son or daughter of God. They seek to be supported by a culture of discernment.

In years past many parishes had a pastor plus associate pastors and religious sisters and brothers visibly ministering within the parish community. While there has been a decline in religious vocations, lay vocations have flourished in service to the Church.

We can no longer rely on religious to encourage vocations today. We need the support and involvement of all the people of God to help create a culture of discernment where God’s voice can be heard. It is a time of transition, but there are abundant signs that we are moving toward a future of hope.

Our office of vocation ministry can help you with resources and suggestions on how to support vocations, particularly vocations to the religious life. To contact us, please vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org

Your parish may wish to consider some of the following programs:

Parish vocation committee: working under the pastoral council, this six- to 10-member committee prays daily for increased vocations, offers vocation awareness programs to the parish, and offers support and encouragement to priests and religious within the parish.

Some activities that the vocation committee might sponsor or participate in would include:

31 Clubs: Participants in 31 Clubs sign up to pray for vocations one day per month for one year, or attend one extra Mass per month for one year. The clubs have 31 members to ensure that every day of the month, prayers or a Mass is being offered for vocations.

Holy Hour for Vocations: This promotes prayer, adoration and personal reflection for encouraging vocations.

Traveling Crucifix: A special crucifix is sent to a different household each week, symbolizing the need to pray for vocations. It travels with suggested prayers and scripture readings. Some parishes transfer the crucifix ceremoniously during a weekend liturgy so that the whole congregation can see the importance of praying for vocations.

Pilgrimage for vocations: Stepping up the
Call is a walking pilgrimage sponsored by the
Missionaries of the Precious Blood and the
Sisters of the Precious Blood. It highlights
the need for more men and women to
answer the call of the Lord as priest, sister,
brother or deacon.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations: The
Church dedicates the feast of the Good
Shepherd as a day to pray for vocations
worldwide.

Other ways to foster vocation awareness:

God’s Little Green Acre: A program coordinated by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood to promote vocation awareness and raise funds in support of our candidates. Farmers participating in this program agree to set aside profits from one acre of crops for our vocation program. We provide a banner to be placed in the field near the road where it can be seen by passersby to remind them to pray for and support vocations.

School and parish presentations: Our vocation office will send a representative to your school or parish to speak to junior high and high school religious education classes.

Adopt-a-Candidate: A classroom or religious education program commits to supporting a candidate in formation through prayer and letter writing.

Parish bulletin inserts: Short bulletin inserts on vocations can help educate the whole parish. The vocation office can provide examples.

Vocation Corner: Create a vocation corner in your church or school building, and keep it supplied with posters, prayers and information about the priesthood and religious life.

A Future Full of Hope: This resource from the National Coalition for Church Vocations is designed to help parish vocation committees. It has a wealth of information for all grade levels and ages. A Future Full of Hope can be ordered through our vocation office.

National Vocation Awareness Week: This week provides an opportunity to give thanks for the rich variety of ways in which men and women live out their Christian vocations in today’s world. Resource materials for are sent to all Precious Blood parishes each year to help celebrate this week in January.

Contact our vocation office for more information on these programs at vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org