Vocation Sunday

Good Shepherd Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Easter, has been dedicated to vocations for quite a while now thanks to the initiative of Pope Paul VI.  Now we know that vocations can be not just the priesthood or consecrated life but includes the married life or a decision to live as a single person.  Today I'm going to speak about religious vocations.  Since the church needs to constantly add new priests, deacons and those in consecrated life, nuns, brothers, it is important that we search for those who are being called to either holy orders or the consecrated life.  What can we do to support them?

First we must all acknowledge that religious vocations must be fostered in the "domestic church", meaning within our own families and inside our own four walls.  The Catholic family should discuss and pray about the possibility that one of our own may have a calling.  How often do we talk to our children about their future with career and family all we want to discuss.  Do we intentionally not travel down the road of a religious vocation because we do not want to lose our child to the church?  After all, as I was told once by a very nice lady, if my son became a priest I would miss out on a wedding and grandchildren.  Ouch.  The church is in need of our families fostering and producing vocations.

As a "parish family" we must be active in supporting vocations.  If not already doing so, a parish prayer for vocations could be prayed before or during the Mass.  Prayers of the faithful for vocations can be added.  A quarterly meeting or reception could be hosted by the pastor or other parish leaders for those interested in a religious vocation.  CCD programs must discuss vocations.  Our youth leadership can incorporate a vocation program into the body of work of the CYO or other youth organizations.  We can find out about the closest Serra club of Knights of Columbus group and support their vocation programs.  Financial support can be solicited for our local seminaries and convents.

There is much good news these days in vocations.  Signs of renewed interest are abounding in many dioceses across the country.  Here in New Orleans larger number of enrollee's attend our minor seminary at the Benedictine Abbey and at Notre Dame.  Older men, with much of their education behind them, are discerning the priesthood.  Let us continue to pray for all our seminarians and those discerning the calling to religious life.

Good Shepherd Sunday is the perfect day to be aware of the need for more religious vocations but we must not forget this need in the weeks and months ahead.  I hope to highlight more stories of vocations for the Church going forward!