Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Wednesday, May 2, 2007 6:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach, Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Victor Parish, Monroe Saturday, May 5, 2007 5:15 p.m. -- Preside and Preach, Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison May 6 - May 19, 2007 Bishop's Annual Rome Visit Rome, Italy Bishop William H. Bullock Saturday, May 5, 2007 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Sacrament of Confirmation, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie Sunday, May 6, 2007 1:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Sacrament of Confirmation, Saint Thomas Parish, Montfort Monday, May 7, 2007 12:00 noon -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Wednesday, May 9, 2007 7:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Sacrament of Confirmation, Saint Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie

Multitude of vocations: Depends on work of laity

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

(en Español)

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday we celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Easter and with it, as it is customary, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Diocese of Madison has been richly blessed in recent years with vocations, both to priesthood and to consecrated life. In the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis we are taking concrete steps, so that the Lord may strengthen those in our diocese who are called to the vocation of married life.

It should be perfectly clear that in fact the Lord Jesus Himself is blessing our diocese with this new fruitfulness. Sometimes people will approach Monsignor Bartylla or myself and in fact give us some of the credit. Monsignor Bartylla and I are but instruments of the Lord who Himself calls, and upon Whom alone the perseverance of our young men and women in their authentic vocation depends.

We will continue to do our part, but most importantly I hope we all continue to pray, not only on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, but everyday, that the Lord will continue to enrich us, so that we will have the witness and leadership that we need as we move into the future.

Strong Catholic identity necessary

The growth in the quality and number of vocations in a diocese, in particular to the priesthood, depends very much on strong Catholic identity and strong priestly identity. Dioceses where Catholic and priestly identity are clear tend to have an increase in the quality and number of vocations. Promoting a clear Catholic identity and a clear priestly identity is the work of all of us.

The teachings of the Catholic Church in what Pope Benedict XVI has recently called "areas that are non negotiable" must always be clear. And when the Catholic faithful embrace these non-negotiable values without hesitation, there will be strong vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life, which will grow in number.

Respect, support, prayer for priests

When the Catholic faithful treat their priests with genuine respect and support them with their loving gratitude, there will be an increase in the quality and number of vocations. And when the Catholic faithful spend extra hours beyond the call of duty in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, begging for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life, those prayers will indeed be answered.

And so, everyday there is an opportunity to promote growth in the quality and number of vocations, by embracing all of the sound doctrines as taught by our Church, by respecting the priesthood of our priests, the meaning of whose lives is derived from the Eucharist, the source and summit of all of our Catholic lives, and acknowledging that their ministry is different in kind and a special gift for the good of the Church.

And once again taking this need for vocations to the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration will assure that the Lord will continue to bless us with a richness of solid vocations to priesthood, to the consecrated life, and to marriage.

Please continue to discuss the issue of vocations with young people, to encourage them to consider what the Lord's specific call to them might be, and please pray with them and for them.

All of us in the Diocese of Madison have very good reason to be encouraged in recent years but let us never fail to do our part every single day to show the Lord that we appreciate the blessings that we have received and are doing our best to dispose ourselves, that He might bless us even more richly. And please never forget to pray daily for our outstanding seminarians. Thank you for reading this. God Bless each one of you! Praised be Jesus Christ!