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Promoting Vocations
Vocations Convocation Presentations - September 19, 2009
Promoting a vocation within a particular religious order
A directory of Priests, Sisters and Brothers serving in vocations in the Archdiocese of Detroit for those who are discerning a vocation and want to learn more about the different religious orders.
Ways to promote vocations in your parish
It is important that the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit do their part in fostering and nurturing vocations. Creating a "culture of vocation" is the work of the entire Church.
The following ideas may be helpful for your parish:
- Parishes
- Start a Parish Vocation Committee (call the Office of Priestly Vocations, we can help)
- Include Vocation Awareness in your pastoral planning
- Publicly recognize and give thanks for the vocations you have in your faith community (lay, consecrated, ordained, married, single)
- Include the Detroit seminarians in your weekly prayers of the faithful
- If your vicariate has a seminarian, participate in the "Support Your Local Seminarian" project, if not, adopt a seminarian. Pray for him and keep in touch.
- Think of the people around you. Is there someone who possesses qualities that would serve well in Church ministry? An invitation to consider it might be just the spark they need.
- Insert a vocation announcement in your parish bulletin – regularly, or at least often – it could be as simple as a prayer and invitation to visit this website or it could be a reflection from the pastor or someone else on his/her vocation.
- The USCCB Fishers of Men DVD given to all parishes is a powerful visual witness to the priesthood. Use it to invite discussion about vocations, especially to the priesthood. Contact the Office of Priestly Vocations if your parish needs a copy.
- Include petitions for vocations in your weekly prayers of the faithful
- Support diocesan efforts to encourage our young people to discern God's plan for them by encouraging their participation in retreats, young adult education, youth ministry, campus ministry, service opportunities, etc. (check the Michigan Catholic or contact the Office of Priestly Vocations for events)
- Invite young people to become more involved in parish ministry.
- Celebrate "National Vocations Awareness Week", (January 8-13, 2008), and World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, (February 3, 2008), and "World Day of Prayer for Vocations" (April 13, 2008).
- Find out who your Vocation Awareness Committee representative is and find ways as a team to promote vocations.
- Institute a "Traveling Chalice", "The Blessing Cup" or "Traveling Statue" or Family Prayer" program for families to pray for vocations – the Office for Priestly Vocations can help.
- Host a Holy Hour or Rosary for Vocations.
- Make sure the vocation posters you received are posted in a visible place with a high traffic area in your parish church or school building.
- Parents
- Teachers
- Invite a priest or religious into the classroom to chat with your students. Being able to talk with them and see them as "real" people makes it easier to possibly envision themselves in those vocations. Contact the Office of Priestly Vocations for speakers.
- Make sure there is age appropriate vocation components in materials used for religious education. Contact the Office of Priestly Vocations for assistance.
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