World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Religious Clip ArtWorld Day of Prayer will be observed on Sunday, April 21st, also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.”  The purpose of this day is to publically fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).

Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated religious life.

  • Prayers of the Faithful

    • For young people; That they may know the personal love of the Lord for them, and respond with open and generous hearts. We pray to the Lord. . . .
    • For young men and women; That God may give them the gift of understanding to discern their service in the Church, the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life; And for the gift of courage to follow His call. We pray to the Lord. . . .
    • That Christian parents will happily accept the possibility that God may call one of their children to priesthood or consecrated life. We pray to the Lord…
    • For those having difficulty discerning their vocations, that the Holy Spirit give them peace and wisdom. We pray to the Lord…
    • That young men in our parish remain open to the Church’s tremendous need for priests and be willing to listen when God calls the. We pray to the Lord…
    • That young women will remain open to consecrating themselves to God as religious sisters. We pray to the Lord…

  • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI message for the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

    • The 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations will take place on 21 April 2013, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI issued his proclamation before announcing his resignation asking everyone in the Church to reflect on the theme: “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith”, which happily occurs during the Year of Faith, the year marking the 50thanniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Paul VI, instituted this day of worldwide prayer to God the Father, asking him to continue to send workers for his Church (cf. Mt 9:38). “The problem of having a sufficient number of priests”, as the Pope stated at the time, “has an immediate impact on all of the faithful: not simply because they depend on it for the religious future of Christian society, but also because this problem is the precise and inescapable indicator of the vitality of faith and love of individual parish and diocesan communities. Wherever numerous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are to be found, that is where people are living the Gospel with generosity”(Paul VI, Radio Message, 11 April 1964).
    • Just as he did during his earthly existence, so today the risen Jesus walks along the streets of our life and sees us immersed in our activities, with all our desires and our needs. Jesus continues to say, “Come, follow me” (Mk 10:21). Accepting his invitation means no longer choosing our own path. Following him means immersing our own will in the will of Jesus, truly giving him priority, giving him pride of place in every area of our lives: in the family, at work, in our personal interests, in ourselves. It means handing over our very lives to Him, living in profound intimacy with Him, entering through Him into communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit, and consequently with our brothers and sisters. This communion of life with Jesus is the privileged “setting” in which we can experience hope and in which life will be full and free.
    • According to Pope Emeritus Benedict, “vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ-out of sincere and confident dialogue with him. This process is possible in Christian communities where the faith is lived intensely and where there is a fervent life of prayer, both personal prayer and the great prayers of the Church.
    • Deep and constant prayer brings about growth in the faith through the unceasingly renewed certainty that God never abandons his people and that he sustains them by raising up particular vocations – to the priesthood and the consecrated life – so that they can be signs of hope for the world. By means of the witness of their faith and apostolic zeal, therefore, they can transmit, especially to the younger generations, a strong desire to respond generously and promptly to Christ. Whenever a disciple of Jesus accepts the divine call to dedicate himself to the priestly ministry or to the consecrated life, we witness one of the most mature fruits of the Christian community, which helps us to look with particular trust and hope to the future of the Church. Jesus and the Church will constantly require new workers to preach the Gospel, to celebrate the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
    • So let us instill in our young people a desire for what is truly worthy- service to others in imitation of Jesus! Our priests and consecrated religious must continually learn to accompany young people as “companions on the journey”, helping them, on life’s often tortuous and difficult path, to recognize Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6), telling them, with Gospel courage, how beautiful it is to serve God, the Christian community, one’s brothers and sisters.
    • Finally, a message to young people: “Do not be afraid to follow Him and to walk the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment! In that way you will be happy to serve, you will be witnesses of a joy that the world cannot give, you will be living flames of an infinite and eternal love, you will learn to “give an account of the hope that is within you” (1 Pt 3:15)!
    • BENEDICTUS EMERITUS XVI

Below are Prayers for Vocations (one from the Jubilee Mass card) and the rest from the USCCB website section on Vocations:

  • Jubilee VOCATIONS PRAYER

    • Father, you call each one of us by name and ask us to follow you. Bless your church by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve your people as sisters, priests, brothers, deacons, and lay ministers. Inspire us as we grow to know you, and open our hearts to hear your call. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.  (from the 75th Jubilee prayer card.)

Prayers For Vocations

  • Prayer #1
    Parents Prayer for Vocations

    • Almighty and eternal God, in your unfailing love you provide ministers for your Church.
    • We pray for those whom you call to serve the Church of Owensboro as priests.
      Inspire in them a generous response. Grant them courage and vision to serve your people.
    • May their lives and service call your people to respond to the presence of your Spirit among us that,
    • faithful to the Gospel and hope of Jesus the Christ, we may: announce glad tidings to the poor,
    • proclaim liberty to captives, set prisoners free and renew the face of the earth. Amen

  • Prayer #2

    • O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest, send Your Graces upon those
    • You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
    • Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.
    • Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
    • Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
    • and grant Your Church’s needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

  • Prayer #3

    • Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You. Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future.
    • Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ’s Mission of love and justice.
      Bless the Church of Owensboro by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends
    • who will serve Your people as Sisters, Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.
    • Inspire us to know You better and open our hearts to hear Your call. We ask this through our Lord.

  • Prayer #4

    • Loving God, you call all who believe in you to grow perfect in love by following in the footsteps of Christ your Son.
    • Call from among us more men and women who will serve you as religious.
    • By their way of life, may they provide a convincing sign of your Kingdom for the Church and the whole world.
    • We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
    • Gracious and loving God, help the men and women of our parish to hear the call to serve in the Diocese of Owensboro.
    • Our needs are great and our people thirst for your presence.
    • Open the hearts of many, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated, holy priests, sisters, brothers and deacons,
    • who will spend themselves for your people and their needs.
    • Bless those who are serving now with courage and perseverance.
    • Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith.
    • We ask this through Christ our Lord.
    • Amen.

  • Prayer #5

    • He said to them “Come and See.”
    • They came and saw where he was staying (John 1:39).
    • God of all nations, we are most grateful for the first Catholic missionaries and explorers who came to the diocese of Owensboro. As strangers in a strange land they brought with them  countless skills, talents and traditions, but their greatest treasure was their faith.
    • May the good News of Jesus Christ, which molded and shaped their lives, continue to mold and shape our lives today.
    • Bless our diocese with men and women who will follow in their footsteps to serve the Church as religious brothers, sisters, priests, and deacons.
    • Lord Jesus Christ, help to hear your call to “Come and See.”

  • Prayer #6

    • Hail Mary, full of grace; all generations call you blessed.
    • Hail Mother of God; when asked by the angel to bear the Son of the Most High,
      filled with faith, you responded: “Let it be done unto me.”
    • Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana, you prompted your Son to perform his first sign.
    • Be with us as we discern our life’s work and guide us in the way we are called to follow in the footsteps of your Son.
    • Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the cross you mourned the death of your only Son.
    • Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests, deacons, brothers and sisters.
    • Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to this nation.
    • Intercede for us to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the harvest in this land dedicated to your honor.
    • Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick, inspire vocations in our time.
    • Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the good news of everlasting life.
    • Amen.

  • Prayer #7

    • Gracious God,
    • You have called me to life and gifted me in many ways.
    • Through Baptism You have sent me to continue the mission of Jesus
    • by sharing my love with others.
    • Strengthen me to respond to Your call each day.
    • Help me to become all You desire of me.
    • Inspire me to make a difference in others’ lives.
    • Lead me to choose the way of life You have planned for me.
    • Open the hearts of all to listen to Your call.
    • Fill all with Your Holy Spirit that we may have listening hearts and the courage to respond to You.
    • Enkindle in my heart and the hearts of others the desire to make the world a better place by serving as
    • Lay Minister, Sister, Priest, Brother or Deacon.
    • Amen.

  • Prayer #8

    • Father, we’re your people, the work of your hands.
    • So precious are we in your sight that you sent your Son, Jesus.
    • Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted, to dry the tears of those who mourn,
    • to give hope to those who despair, and to rejoice in your steadfast love.
    • We, the baptized, realize our call to serve. Help us to know how.
    • Call forth from among us priests, sisters, brothers and lay ministers.
    • With our hearts you continue to love your people.
    • We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
    • who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
    • one God forever and ever.

  • Prayer #9

    • Loving God,
    • your Son, Jesus, has shown us that an open heart finds the way.
    • Help me to find my way in this world. Keep my heart open to following Jesus’ way of serving others in love.
    • Give me the courage to accept the guidance you offer me through my family, my friends, and my parish community.
    • Through the Holy Spirit, you call me to a particular way of life.
    • If it is the way of a priest, sister, brother or deacon, then
    • help me to walk it in joyful service to your people.
    • With you, my God, I know I can find my way.
    • Amen.

  • Prayer #10

    • O God, Who wish all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of Your truth:
    • send, we beg You, laborers into Your harvest, and grant them grace to speak Your word with all boldness;
    • so that Your word may spread and be glorified, and all nations may know You, the only God,
      and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ Your Son, Our Lord,
    • Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.