In this video Fr Willie Purcell, National Coordinator for Diocesan Vocations talks about vocations in Ireland, his own vocation as a gift and about the plans of the vocations directors for this year’s 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.
Background to Vocations Sunday:
Pope Paul VI instituted the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on the 11 April 1964 by saying:
“O Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us” (Pope Paul VI )
In the years since, successive pontiffs have called on the Church to focus and pray for vocations. Prayer and promotion of vocations takes place on a daily basis here in Ireland but in a particular way on Vocations Sunday which this year falls on Sunday 29 April, the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
The Pope issues a message for Vocations Sunday each year and the theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for this year’s celebration is: Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God. In his message Pope Benedict says: “It is in this soil of self-offering and openness to the love of God, and as the fruit of that love, that all vocations are born and grow. By drawing from this wellspring through prayer, constant recourse to God’s word and to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, it becomes possible to live a life of love for our neighbours, in whom we come to perceive the face of Christ the Lord (cf. Mt 25:31-46).”
Click here for the full text of the Pope’s message for Vocations Sunday 2012.
Vocation Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
you said to your disciples:
“The harvest indeed is great
but the labourers are few.”
We ask that we may know
and follow the vocation
to which you have called us.
We pray for those called to serve:
those whom you have called,
those you are calling now,
and those you will call in the future.
May they be open and responsive
to the call of serving your people.
Amen.
Vocations Directors for Irish Dioceses:
Click here for the list of Diocesan Vocations Directors and their contact information
Diocesan Vocations Directors prepare for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012:
Preparations are well underway to have vocations to diocesan priesthood very much highlighted at the forthcoming 50th International Eucharistic Congress. Banners, flyers, posters, displays etc are being designed to draw attention to the need for more young people to give themselves in the service of Christ through the diocesan priesthood. Diocesan Priests are very much at the heart of the Church’s mission of Communion. The Vocations Leadership team have taken the theme of the Eucharistic Congress and have highlighted the fact the Diocesan Priesthood is very much ‘Prayer at the Heart of the Community’.
University Church, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, has been designated by the Eucharistic Congress as the Church set aside to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. During the week of the Congress, Mass will be celebrated each day for vocations to the priesthood. There will be other events and prayer sessions taking place in this church. A full list will of events will be posted closer to the Congress in June.
Useful links:
Website of the National Diocesan Vocations Directors www.vocations.ie
Find and LIKE the Vocations Directors on Facebook as Diocesan Vocations Ireland
Follow the Diocesan Vocations Directors on Twitter @NVocations
General links and resources:
Interview with Cardinal Timothy Dolan on priesthood and vocations – This interview was conducted in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in May 2010 as part of the Year for Priests initiative. Cardinal Dolan was an Archbishop at the time but he was made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict in February 2012. In this interview Cardinal Dolan says that it when it comes to promoting vocations and priesthood that ‘happiness attracts’. Click here to watch the full interview.
Pope Benedict’s 2010 Letter to Seminarians – Click here for Pope Benedict’s Letter to Seminarians from October 2010
In Praise of Priests – In five short videos, George Hook, Alice Taylor, Ashleigh O’Neill, Mickey Harte and David Begg share what particular priests have meant in their lives. Click here to view videos.
Documents on priesthood from the Congregation for the Clergy – Click here for documents on priesthood from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy.
Books on priesthood from Veritas – Veritas has some interesting books available on vocations. Click here to see a range of what they have. Visit one of their stores nationwide to see their full range of books and publications on vocations and priesthood.
Website for Vocations Ireland – Vocations Ireland is an association of the Vocation Directors of the Catholic Religious Orders in Ireland. They work to present religious life, apostolic, missionary and contemplative, as a life choice that is one way of following Christ and bringing deeper meaning and purpose to life. Click here.
