Monday, November 29, 2004

National Day of Prayer for Vocations proposed by Pope John Paul II

As they end their "ad limina" visit, bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Dubuque, Kansas City in Kansas, Omaha and St. Louis, were received by the Pope this morning who continued his reflections on the exercise of episcopal governance, especially "the relationship which unites you to your closest co-workers in the apostolate, your brother priests."

"An essential concern of responsible governance must also be to provide for the future," affirmed the Holy Father. "No one can deny that the decline in priestly vocations represents a stark challenge for the Church in the United States, and one that cannot be ignored or put off. The response to this challenge must be insistent prayer according to the Lord's command. ... I would propose for your consideration that the Catholic community in your country annually set aside a national day of prayer for priestly vocations."
I would also suggest that the lay faihtful find a chapter of a local Serra group and sign up with the '31 Club' to pray and offer attendance at Mass one day a month for vocations. When enough people sign up for this, every day of the month at a local parish has the particular prayers and intentions to pray for vocations at Holy Mass.

Th Vatican article is here.

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