Catholic Priesthood Vocations Prayer

Prayer for Vocations

Father, you call us to prepare the way for Christ our Lord, bringing low the mountains of our pride and filling up the valleys of our weakness. As you created us in your own image, open our minds and hearts to know our longing for the Savior. Help us to follow the example of Mary, always ready to do your will. As we continue to celebrate the simple beauty of the Incarnation of your Son, help us in freedom to say “Yes” to our vocation and make us radiant with his light. Amen!

Family Take

Dear Parent,

To strengthen the learnings on Christian vocations consider doing some of the suggested activities or create your own.

Family Sharing

	Take time to go through family photos. Share memories. Especially reminisce about parent’s weddings, baptisms, first communions, and confirmations.
	Parents, share how you realized that God was calling you to be married. Invite children to ask questions.
	Parents, write a letter to each of your children and tell him/her how special he/she is to you. Include your wish for them as they continue to grow.
	Children, make a card or write a note to your parents. Thank them for loving you.
	List names of priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons you know. Pray for them. Write a thank you note or make a card for one of these people.
	Invite your local parish priest, sister, brother, deacon, or lay minister to dinner to talk about her/his vocation story.
	Compose a family vocation prayer together. Print, decorate, and hang it in a special place. Pray it often.
	As a family select religious art for the home (pictures, posters, statues, cross, candle, etc.). Purchase a family bible, children’s bible stories, prayer books, religious music, videos, etc.
	Chose a ministry in your parish and volunteer to help.

Prayer for Vocations

Father, you call us to the table of your Son, renew us by word and sacrament, and send us to labor in your harvest. We are a people in need of the witness of faithful marriages and priests, dedicated single people and deacons, religious sisters, brothers, monks and nuns. Help each disciple to trust in your call; make us able and willing to do what you ask; keep us united in our gifted diversity; and bring to maturity every seed you sow. We ask this through Jesus Christ: the Good Shepherd, your Son, and our Lord. Amen.

If you or someone you know is thinking about the priesthood, check out the Nashville Tennessee Priest Vocations Office Website at nashvillepriest.com

A resource on Catholic priest vocations is at vocation.com

Call 1-800-671-NCCV to order A Parent’s Guide to Church Vocations and/or Ten Questions Parents Often Ask About Church Vocations.”

Parents, God has a plan for your child’s life. Talk with your child about what plan that might be. Point out the gifts and abilities you see in your child, and discuss how he/she might use them to serve God.