VOCATION AWARENESS IDEAS FOR THE PARISH COMMUNITY
Offer a program where all parishioners can discuss the idea of the Christian Vocation and the states of life. Arrange informal home meetings with families where priests, religious, and laity can continue the discussion during the year.
Suggest that the parish youth and young adult groups spend at least one evening talking about priesthood and religious life. Provide discussion aids and printed materials, if requested.
Invite the sick and shut-ins to pray for vocations. Enroll them in a Vocation Prayer Apostolate. Supply them with prayer cards. Have a special Mass each year to thank them.
Suggest that parish groups spend one evening discussing the priesthood or religious life and how they can encourage vocations in the local parish.
Invite the Vocation Director to celebrate and preach at Sunday Masses.
Encourage young women of the parish to attend programs offered, by the Office for Religious.
Sponsor Eucharistic Adoration (Holy Hour or 24- hour continual) at least once a month for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It would be ideal if Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations became part of the regular order of parish services.
Invite the Vocation Director to speak to parent and teacher groups.
Include weekly in the general intercessions a petition for vocations.
Have a VOCATION BULLETIN BOARD in the gathering space of the Church. Display Vocation Posters, Seminary Posters, information on priesthood and religious life. Arrange for photos and stories highlighting priests and religious in or from the parish.
Invite the Vocation Director to speak to students in the parish school or religious education classes.
When the liturgical calendar permits a Votive Mass, celebrate the Mass for priestly or religious vocations.
When the Lectionary suggests, include vocational themes in homilies.
Encourage young men of the parish to attend (and attend with them) programs offered by the Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood.
Provide information and telephone numbers on the priesthood and religious life through your Sunday bulletin.
Be sure there are relevant pamphlets and books on the priesthood and religious life in your parish book rack or gift shop.
FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
Four times each calendar year a month will have a fifth Sunday. Make that fifth Sunday a Parish Vocation Sunday! The Sunday liturgies could have the special Intention for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
The general direction of the parish for that Sunday would be toward vocations and ministry within the Church and the parish.
The homily could be directed to Christian service, the call to priesthood and religious life. There could be a parish “Vocation Prayer” which is prayed in unison that Sunday.
Bulletin material could highlight Church vocations.
Each parish staff member could write a personal reflection of his/her ministry.
“Lord... to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of everlasting life! We have come to know and are convinced that You are the Christ, the Son of God!”