Message of the Holy Father
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
April 21, 2013 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Vocations as a sign of hope in faith
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On the occasion of the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be held on 21 April 2013, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, I want to invite you to reflect on the theme: “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith”, which happily occurs during the Year of Faith, the year marking the 50thanniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. While the Council was in session, the Servant of God, Paul VI, instituted this day of worldwide prayer to God the Father, asking him to continue to send workers for his Church (cf. Mt 9:38). “The problem of having a sufficient number of priests”, as the Pope stated at the time, “has an immediate impact on all of the faithful: not simply because they depend on it for the religious future of Christian society, but also because this problem is the precise and inescapable indicator of the vitality of faith and love of individual parish and diocesan communities, and the evidence of the moral health of Christian families. Wherever numerous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are to be found, that is where people are living the Gospel with generosity” (Paul VI, Radio Message, 11 April 1964).[more...]
A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP O’CONNELL
A message from Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Someone’s on the line: Take the call!
A vocation is more than just another job; it is an entire way of life. A vocation is more than just another lifestyle; it is a total commitment. A vocation is more than just something one does; it is who one is. A vocation is a response to a call.
As with any “call,” there is someone “calling” and someone responding. When speaking of a vocation to the priesthood or life as a religious sister or brother, it is God who is calling to an entire way of life, a total commitment and an identity that is patterned on the life of Jesus Christ. This call, however, comes in many forms, as many as those who hear it. Sometimes, the call is pretty clear and easy to discern. Other times, the call is less obvious and takes a bit of work. But, in either and both cases, God is still calling young men and women to follow him in the Catholic Church as priests, sisters and brothers. He is still offering them a vocation. [more...]
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