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A layperson, consecrated sister or brother, deacon, and priest have so many opportunities bring awareness to the real need of vocations in our Church between Priesthood Sunday and National Vocation Awareness Week! I have already heard of great stories of what has been accomplished at parishes for these events in the Facebook Group that is made just for you called
Hundredfold! If you want to join, scroll down to the bottom of this email and click
Join Group!
It is a busy but beautiful time in vocation world! I felt that, too, giving 5 workshops in 4 dioceses in 14 days. Whew! It seems crazy now but looking back on each encounter at each workshop makes me smile. Each encounter you have at your parish makes a difference, too!
Whether you are handing out prayer cards, leading a Rosary for vocations, arranging for sisters to visit classrooms, or handing out punch, you are changing the culture of the parish, one encounter at a time! Keep it up!
In a few weeks, I will share with you a way to help Vocation Ministry reach even more people, so be on the lookout for that special email. |
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Have you wondered what men do in parishes/colleges before entering seminary? See the infographic below.
They pray! A lot!
I am sure this holds true for women entering consecrated life, too. At every workshop, I speak about the need for adoration to occur somehow at every parish. It is key to more vocations! We need to be a Church of beggars, and those discerning need to have a conversation with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament regularly.
Start planning now how your parish can have adoration, whether that is a Family Holy Hour for World Day of Prayer for Vocations in the spring or start adoration for an hour a month at your parish or a nearby parish. It can look differently for each parish, but persevere, knowing that Eucharistic Adoration is of utmost importance.
Want to know how to have a Holy Hour or Adoration for Vocations? Check out how in
Hundredfold or at
www.VocationMinistry.com. If you need prayer materials for your parish, check out the prayer cards at
www.VianneyVocations.com .
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Prayer Drive/Spiritual Adoption/Gift Card Drive for a Seminarian, Sister, or Brother
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As you prepare for Advent, don’t forget those who are discerning fully their vocation in seminary or a house of formation from your parish or diocese. It is easy to start with prayer! Consider holding a prayer drive for a seminarian, sister, or brother. Gather spiritual bouquets and send them with some Christmas cookies, or spiritually adopt one seminarian/sister for the entire parish or hand out slips of paper with different names on them. This is a quick way to have many people praying for these men and women. Don’t forget to send the seminarian(s)/sister(s)/brother(s) a card telling them of this prayer activity. They will be heartened!
If you are unsure about your diocese’s policy toward giving gifts to seminarians, call the Office of Vocations and ask before collecting gift cards or gifts (supplies for school).
You may be thinking that I have completely skipped over Thanksgiving, which would be a perfect time to send a word of thanks to the men and women who have said yes from your parish. I only bring up Christmas now because the first or second week of December is normally the last week the seminarians are at seminary. So, start gathering soon. Consecrated Sisters, Priests, and Brothers do not leave their community to go home, so you have some extra time to put something together for them.
Here is an article listing 12 gift ideas that you might find helpful.
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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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