At a recent priests' conference for the clergy of the Archdiocese, Fr. Paddy Rushe, Diocesan Vocations Director, launched a booklet filled with 'ready-made announcements' for parish bulletins for the rest of the Church Year.

"The Parish Bulletin is one of the most effective means we have of connecting with those considering a vocation," said Fr. Paddy. "Lets face it, if someone is considering priesthood, they are more than likely regular Mass attenders.  As most people either take home a bulletin, or read it in the Church, it makes sense that having the contact details of the Vocation Director there each and every week, should allow those considering this step, ample opportunity to make contact".

Fr. Paddy said that "Most priests are ready and willing to asssit in the work of Vocations by making announcements in their bulletins, and this is made all the more easy to do when the announcements are already written and linked in with the readings for that week".  "Last year, The Vocations Commission for Armagh Archdiocese produced a booklet of ready-made Prayers of the Faithful, with a vocation prayer for each Sunday of the year.  The Bulletin pack will supplement this", said Fr. Rushe.

The content for the Bulletin announcements was garnered from the World Wide Web, and specifically from the website from the Vincentian Family Website - thanks must go to the compiler of the information there.  Fr. Rushe commentated that "While the material is readily available on the web, sometimes it has to be compiled and made accessible to all priests (even those not familiar with computers)".

The booklet was distributed at the clergy conference to everyone present, and every parish in the Diocese will receive a hard copy.

During his address to the priests at the copnference, Fr. Rushe informed them that the Archdiocese would have it's first Ordination to the Diaconate (since 2004) on 1st February, when Armagh native, Francis Coll, will be Ordained in St. Patrick's Cathedral.  But hot on Francis' heels are 6 other students who are presently in formation for the Archdiocese.  Fr. Rushe had more good news to share when he informed the priests that he is currently working with 6 men who are 'seriously' considering applying for the Archdiocese to begin studeies for the priesthood in September 2009.

Finally, Fr. Paddy revealled that the vocations website for the Archdiocese is currently being re-designed and should be launched in time for Vocations Sunday (3rd May).

Electronic copies (in PDF Format) can be downloaded here.
For those who might wish to ammend the announcements for their own diocese, a 'basic' text version is available here.