Quotations

“Many people find it difficult to follow Christ because of the God of wealth, but the opportunity to offer the world the truth about Jesus and the message of Eternal Life is the most wonderful thing about priesthood. We can all do our own bit in promoting vocations. Being a good priest is the greatest advertisement of all in pointing a young man towards the priesthood”

(Fr Noel Boylan, Diocesan Director of Vocations, Kilmore Diocese).


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Notices

fr_david_toupsVOCATION AWARENESS WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES
'Ten Things That Promote Vocations'

The Catholic Church of USA celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week January 10-16. To encourage Catholics to foster vocations, Father David Toups, author of a hugely successful book on Priestly Vocation, and interim director of the Office of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers "Ten Things" Catholics can do to promote vocations to priesthood and religious life.
The first five steps on this list are directed toward all Catholics. The second five are specifically an invitation to younger Catholics to consider saying "yes" to a religious vocation.
FOR ALL CATHOLICS
  1. Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Jesus says in Matthew 9:38 "to beg the master of the harvest to send laborers into the vineyard." If we want more priests, sisters and brothers, we all need to ask.
  2. Teach young people how to pray. Pope Benedict XVI said that unless we teach our youth how to pray, they will never hear God calling them into a deeper relationship with Him and into the discipleship of the Church.
  3. A simple, sincere comment should not be underestimated. An easy way to do this can be remembered by four letters: ICNU. "John, I see in you (ICNU) the qualities that would make a good priest, and I want to encourage you to pray about it." It is a non-invasive way to encourage openness to a religious vocation.
  4. Make it attractive. Show the priesthood for what it truly is – a call to be a spiritual father to the whole family of faith. Similarly, the consecrated life for a young woman is a call to be united to Christ in a unique way, and to be a spiritual mother to those she encounters in her life and service. The challenge for priests and religious is to be joyful models of their vocations.
  5. Preach it, brother! Vocations must be talked about regularly if a "vocation culture" is to take root in parishes and homes. This means, first and foremost, the people need to hear about vocations from priests through homilies, prayers of the faithful, and discussions in the classroom. Vocations kept out of sight are out of mind. reclaiming_our_priestly_character

FOR THOSE CONSIDERING A VOCATION

  1. Practice the faith. We all need to be reminded that the whole point of our lives is to grow in a deep, intimate and loving relationship with God. This is the first step for any young person desiring to discern any call in life.
  2. Enter into the Silence. Silence is key to sanity and wholeness. We can only "hear" the voice of God if we are quiet. Take out the ear buds of your iPhone, iPod, and iTunes and listen to God, the great I AM. Young people should try to spend 15 minutes of quiet prayer each day – this is where you can begin to receive clear direction in your lives.
  3. Be a good disciple. Some bishops say, "We do not have a vocation crisis; we have a discipleship crisis." Young people can become true followers of Jesus Christ by serving those around them. By discovering your call to discipleship, you also discover your particular call within the Church.
  4. Ask God. Ask God what He wants for your life and know He only wants what is good for you. If, in fact, you are called to the priesthood or consecrated life, it will be the path to great joy and contentment.
  5. In the immortal words of a famous sneaker manufacturer: "Just do it!" If you feel that God is inviting you to "try it out," apply to the seminary or religious order. Remember, the seminary or convent is a place of discernment. You will not be ordained or asked to profess vows for many years, providing ample opportunity to explore the possibility of a call to priesthood or religious life.
Courtesy of Vidimus Dominum
Please contact your local Vocation Director for more information (Click here for a list)

 

www.usccb.org
 

News

Early Vocations: Christmas Toy Ideas
dolls_yfp_bottom600It's never too early to get your child thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life. WeeBelievers.com has just the gift your little darling needs to shore up his/her commitment to the Catholic Church. Designed for ages 3-8 (according to the company Web site) are two huggable plush vocations dolls ($29.99 each). They come complete with booklets about their lives and must have been especially designed to encourage minority vocations. The priest doll is Fr. Juan Pablo and the nun is a morenita named Sr. Mary Clara.

The same company produces a "Mass kit" ($76.49 on sale) for little boys who want to play priest and next year they will be issuing the "My Quiet Church kit" which will eventually include "accessory kits for baptisms, weddings, first communions" and other sacraments.

From the company's press release: "'Our hope is that by playing with the Vocation Dolls, children will grow in virtue with a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith,' says Steve Abdalla, co-founder of Wee Believers. 'We pray that the Holy Spirit will use these dolls to call more men and women to the consecrated religious life.'...children who play with toy mass kits and dolls which represent the consecrated life may have their hearts opened to God's call to become a priest or a Religious Sister.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, recently shared how a toy mass kit he was given as a young boy first inspired him to the priesthood..

Courtesy of this site (click for link)
 
Vocations Podcast Worth A Listen
podcast_logoThere are many methods of spreading the vocations message.   This young man from Nashville has chosen to desgin and record this podcast to highlight vocations.  While it is delivered in a casual and relaxed style, there are great insights from listening to the various contributors talk about how they discovered the Lord's call in their own life, but also what brought them to work in this ministry.
Read more
 
Vocation Poster Designer Interviewed
matrix_vocations_posterOn November 17, Missy Scarlett, the designer of several "Year For Priests" posters will appear on the CatholicTV live talk show "This is the Day". One of Missy's best-known works is a vocations poster depicting a young, hip, priest in clerical robes which appears similar to the all-black outfit worn by "Neo" the character played by actor Keanu Reeves in the film "The Matrix".
Read more
 

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