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| Seminarians from the Diocese of Madison are pictured with Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison and Fr. Gregory Ihm, vocations director for the diocese, right. For more on discerning and answering God’s call, see the special section on vocations in this week’s paper. (Photo by Backflip) |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week, November 5-11.
This annual event is a special time for parishes in the United States to actively foster and pray for a culture of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, reminds us that each of us in the Church has a key role to play in the witness of our vocation in ordinary circumstances.
“As we go about our everyday life and most especially this week, we must keep vocations in our prayers, while, at the same time, being a mindful witness with our own vocation,” said Cardinal Tobin.
“We may never know how our lives may have an impact on someone else’s story. Simply living out our call as disciples of Jesus Christ fully and joyfully in the world bears witness to the love of Christ as He generously bestows on each of us our own personal call.”
National Vocations Awareness Week, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, is designed to help promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask the question: “To what vocation in life is God calling me?”
Parish and school communities across the nation are encouraged to include, during the first full week in November, prayers and special activities that focus on vocation awareness.
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976, when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. The USCCB moved the observance to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort.
More information and resources, including a prayer card, homily aids, suggested prayers of the faithful, and bulletin-ready quotes are available online at: http://www.usccb.org/ beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week.cfm
For more information in the Diocese of Madison, contact the Office of Vocations at 608-821-3088, email vocations@madisondiocese.org or go to the website at www.madisonvocations.org