“This App is an invitation to engage with a process of generating hope,
solidarity and healing in a society that is fractured and hurting in many ways.” – Bishop McKeown

Some will caricature this as just a churchy gimmick that will try to give the impression of modernity to something that is passé, a vain attempt to market something that belongs to yesterday. I know that, for very many young people in modern Ireland, the word ‘vocation’ is not a meaningful term and they have little idea what clergy do, other than for an hour or two on Sundays. But the social media is where young people are.

Today is an opportunity to highlight and promote particularly the vocation to the priesthood.

The number of priests per Catholic has declined over the past 40 years. This makes it more difficult for individual parishioners to establish a close relationship with any one particular priest. Also, priests are no longer the only ones who offer pastoral care to our people. Yet without a priest, no parish is able to be a Eucharistic community. It is important to reaffirm the importance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of our Church.

There are some voices that say that if we do away with celibacy and allow priests to marry there would be more. I don’t believe it.” 

In an interview with the newspaper Montanes, Bishop Vicente Jimenez of Santander, Spain acknowledged that the lack of vocations in his diocese is “troubling” but said he does not believe the solution is to make things easier for priests.

PRESS RELEASE - Immediate - 28 August 2011

22 men begin their studies for priesthood today at Ireland's national seminary, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. This group includes a chartered surveyor, a pub manager, several mature students and at least one school leaver. The average age of the new entrants is 25 years old, and they come from 14 of the 26 dioceses of Ireland

The Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors now have a Facebook Page, and a Twitter Feed to compliment their Website.  Both Innovcations are launched the evening before the latest intake of Seminarians begin their studies for Priesthood in the National Semionary, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (and other seminaries). There are now over 90 men studying for the priesthood in Irish Dioceses.

The addition of these social networking sites means that the focus for the Vocation Directors of Ireland is on building relationships, and becoming more well known, and as a point of contact for those seeking more information about Vocations to the diocesan priesthood in Ireland.

The Dominican Order in Ireland has a great month of events ahead in September, with several ordinations, and solemn professions.  

In recent times, due in large part to positive and engaging vocations work by the director, Rev. Gerard Dunne, OP, the Dominican Friars have seen double figure recruitments in their Irish provence.  To read more about these important dates, please click here

Please keep these young men and all those studing for priesthood across the orders and dicoeses of our country in your prayers.

At the World Youth Day events in Spain, Pope benedict made the announcement that Spanish cleric - John of Avila - a doctor of the Universal Church; He said, "In making this announcement here, I would hope that the word and the example of this outstanding pastor will enlighten all priests and those who look forward to the day of their priestly ordination.

I invite everyone to look to Saint John of Avila and I commend to his intercession the Bishops of Spain and those of the whole world, as well as all priests and seminarians. As they persevere in the same faith which he taught, may they model their hearts on that of Jesus Christ the good shepherd, to whom be glory and honor for ever. Amen".

Find out more about the great man by clicking here;

Benedict XVI celebrates a mass with seminarians from all over the world attending the World Youth Day and celebrates the priestly vocation, "rooted in Christ."

He asks the thousands of young clerics present to be grateful to Christ asks for this "act of preference for each of you." Imitating Christ and testifying before the world " without anxiety or mediocrity." St. John of Avila, patron saint of the Spanish clergy, proclaimed Doctor of the Universal Church.

Following on the theme of WYD, "Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith", he asked the young clerics to have "a life deeply rooted in Christ," which is revealed "as a novelty, attracting force with those who truly seek God, truth and justice. " 

The inclusion of a Mass with young seminarians in the WYD program is a courageous gesture, after the revelations and controversies that have emerged in past years over the scandal of paedophile priests. Benedict XVI calls the priestly vocation, "a sign of favour” in which Christ “holds each one of you". " Looking at you, - he adds - I again see proof of how Christ continues to call young disciples and to make them his apostles, thus keeping alive the mission of the Church and the offer of the Gospel to the world " 

At the same time, the encounter with young seminarians is the perfect opportunity for inspiration for the young people of WYD to question themselves about their vocation.

Read the full text here;

Young people can find themselves at the margins in the local church, but at World Youth Day they can meet peers and reflect on how God wants them to live. Then within that they also meet young people who have entered into the dialogue we all have to have with our Creator, asking, 'What would you have me do?'" said Archbishop Joseph Tobin, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Vocation Boom! is a non-profit initiative that is the fruit of more than twenty years of prayer and deliberation. Click on the image for a link to the website.

A new video presentation from the Australian Church shows the work of a priest.

Come inside the intriguing world of a priest's daily life as we walk with him through his unusual, challenging and moving ministry.  Prepare to be uplifted and surprised. 

Click here for the link.

St. John Vianney has something important to offer as a model for priesthood - even today.

My children, we have come to the Sacrament of Orders. It is a Sacrament which seems to relate to no one among you, and which yet relates to everyone. This Sacrament raises man up to God. What is a priest! A man who holds the place of God -- a man who is invested with all the powers of God. "Go, " said Our Lord to the priest; "as My Father sent Me, I send you. All power has been given Me in Heaven and on earth. Go then, teach all nations. . . . He who listens to you, listens to Me; he who despises you despises Me. " When the priest remits sins, he does not say, "God pardons you"; he says, "I absolve you. " At the Consecration, he does not say, "This is the Body of Our Lord;" he says, "This is My Body. "

Zelie Redmond, a mother of three children, ages 10, 8 and 6, hopes the Catholic children's book series she's authoring will plant a seed in the children reading them — a seed that might blossom into a vocation to the religious life.

"Joyful" Saturdays - Do His Will Within Our Vocations

New Blog suggests that on saturdays as part of the recitation of the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary, men could be encoraged to pray for their vocation to be put at the service of God;

Click here for the link to the powerful "Real Men pray the Rosary" blog

“Invocation 2011” was a national festival for young adults, held in the grounds of St. Mary’s College, Oscott, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, United Kingdom, from 17 - 19 June 2011.

This national festival was aimed at young men and women aged 16-35, who were looking to deepen their relationship with Christ and who were searching for the knowledge and tools to develop their own personal formation, discernment and understanding of God’s will for their lives, for some this may mean being open to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

Vocations Sunday 2011

On this Page, we have tried to assemble some useful information which will help you mark the event of Vocations Sunday. However, we ought to be praying for Vocations everyday!. Please ask the Lord to continue to send workers to His harvest.