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Every year at this time, I am reminded in a real way that we are a prayerful people as we journey through Lent with our eyes set on the Easter! With more families at Church over the next month for Stations of the Cross, Masses, penance services, and more, this is a great time to pray for young people to generously respond to God’s voice and for parents to be supportive of the vocation that God has placed on the hearts of their children.
We have cause for celebration, as well, since Pope Francis restored the Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church on the Monday after Pentecost, May 21, 2018! Since Our Heavenly Mother is the Mother of all Vocations, we can rejoice in this news! She wants more holy priests, consecrated men and women, and marriages.
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World Day of Prayer for Vocations
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The big day is April 22, 2018! I hope you are planning an opportunity for your parishioners to pray for vocations on this day. It can be as simple as passing out
prayer cards after Mass or organizing a
Rosary for Vocations to be said before each Mass that day. If your ministry is grooving along in Phase III or IV, you may want to jump in with a more complicated activity like a
Holy Hour for Vocations or start a program of prayer for your priests like Seven Sisters Apostolate.
The premise of this apostolate, that originated in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, encourages 7 women at a parish to spiritual adopt their priest (one for each day of the week). They want fellow disciples to be a spiritual sister giving hidden support to priests. Find out more at
http://sevensistersapostolate.org/
You will also find an updated section for this activity at
www.vocationministry.com.
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“In strengthening the priest
you strengthen the whole Church…
Strengthen the priest
and you strengthen the whole foundation,
you strengthen everything in the Church.”
~Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, S.P.
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So many men and women are searching for God’s will. A recent study found that 30% of children from active Catholics have thought about becoming a priest or consecrated sister. Familiarize yourself with the Discernment tools and steps at one of the free sections of the website
http://www.vocationministry.com/discerning. You will find more than you can imagine, including videos, books, podcasts, articles, and much more!
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The majority of priests will celebrate their ordination anniversary in the coming months. Make sure to ask your priest their ordination date so that you don’t accidentally miss a big one, like their 10th, 20th, 25th, or 50th Anniversary! These are extremely special days for a priest and their families. If your priest is celebrating an in-between anniversary like 12, consider having all the parish organizations to sign a card for the priest and put a basket together of his favorite goodies. Maybe you will host, along with other organizations at your parish, a donut and coffee receptions so that parishioners have an opportunity to say thank you and receive a blessing! If he has been a priest for 10 years, you may want to step it up a notch and celebrate with a more substantial reception, but if he is celebrating his 20th or higher, then consider doing even more. Find out other ideas at
www.vocationministry.com and in
Hundredfold! |
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Don’t forget to email me back with your stories of triumph or struggle. If you have questions, know that I am here to support you in this mission of Building a Culture of Vocations One Parish at a Time! Email me!
As always, know that you are in my prayers. If you think of it, please pray for me, too.
God bless you!
Rhonda Gruenewald
Vocation Ministry
Cell:
281-352-4005
rhonda@vocationministry.com
www.vocationministry.com
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Pray For Us!
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