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Holy Hour for Vocations
Prayers for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians and Religious
Every 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in Church
August 16, 2010
VOCATION CHALICE
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Reflections (Optional)
Introductory Prayer & General Intercessions
The Divine Praises
Benediction
Vocation Boom is a team of passionate advocates dedicated to supporting the
priesthood as a life’s vocation and mission. We seek to develop a global
support community where youth and young men interested in the priesthood can
find comprehensive resources, encouragement, mentors and friends to aid in
the discernment process.
St. Joseph Abbevy to host monastic discernment program
St. Benedict, LA
St. Joseph Abbey, a community of Benedictine monks in St. Benedict, will
host a program for men ages 20 to 45 interested in discerning a call to
monastic life. The program entitled, "Living the Monastic Identity," will be
held from Wednesday evening, July 7 through Sunday, July 11. Participants
will pray and work with the monks as well as attend seminars on topics
related to monasticism. Participants will also have the opportunity to
celebrate the Solemnity of St. Benedict with the monastic community.
Anyone interested in more information is asked to contact Br. Jude Israel,
O.S.B., vocation director of St. Joseph Abbey, at (985) 867-2249 or through
an email to brjude@sjasc.edu.
USCCb launches new website to promote vocations
The Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington has launched a new website to
promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. The site,
www.ForYourVocation.org, is
meant to help people who are discerning a possible vocation and educate
Catholics about the need to encourage others to consider a vocation.
The site includes discernment resources and ideas for promoting a vocation
culture within the home, and a range of tools for educators, youth leaders
and vocation directors.
He has a job that puts him in touch with
dozens of interesting people each week: He smiles over coffee while
a 95-year-old woman reminisces about her first date in 1920; he
discusses Marxism with a world-class philosopher after a lecture.
Each day when he gets out of bed, he knows his work will make a
difference. People knock on his door when they learn their spouses
are sick, even dying. When they don't have the money to buy winter
coats for their small children. Or when their parents have kicked
them out of the house. He does his best to do something for them
all, but he gets back even more. This is not a thankless job. Real
appreciation is expressed in hugs, smiles and simple thank yous.
His co-workers are well-trained and knowledgeable in their fields.
And they are supportive, never competitive. They laugh a lot with
him. Sometimes they cry with him. But they are always caring.
This job has brought out in him all sorts of hidden talents. He
hadn't known what a flair he had for public speaking; now, after
every talk, there are pats on the back. He hadn't known how much he
liked children; now hundreds of kids know he's ticklish behind the
knees. This is not a dead-end job. He is learning every day.
He is a priest. Does his job sound good to you?
~ Serra for priestly and religious vocations |
Do you feel you may be called to priesthood,
sisterhood, brotherhood, or to the deaconate?
Contact the diocesan vocation office.
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By Bishop Michael Jarrell
From Acadiana Catholic Newspaper
September 2009/Vol. 25/No. 9/Pg. 12
"In this Year for Priests, the Holy Father asks two things of the laity. He asks for prayer for priests.
I have found over the years that there are many lay people in the Diocese who regularly pray for priests.
I encourage more people to do so.
The Holy Father also asked for prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Again, I have found that many of the laity of the Diocese of Lafayette pray regularly
for religious vocations. However, I think there is one area in which there could be
some improvement, and that is in parental and family support for young men and women
who are interested in a religious vocation. It seems that we have many people who would
like to see more priests in the Church and who support religious vocations in general,
but are not quite as supportive when their own children express a desire to be a priest,
a brother or a sister. A survey of the 2009 ordination class in the United States showed
that 47 percent of them encountered some degree of parental opposition to their vocations,
at least in the early stages. Perhaps priests are not the only ones in need of inner renewal,
deeper spirituality and a clearer focus on the meaning of life in Christ. May God bless us
all."
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