Pray for Vocations
Please pray for the men and women of our diocese who are discerning their vocations to marriage, priesthood, the permanent diaconate, the dedicated single life, and consecrated life, that is, as a consecrated virgin living in the world, or as a religious priest, brother or sister.
Here are several suggestions for how to pray for vocations:
PRAY THE ROSARY
Since the Blessed Virgin Mary is Our Lady of the Rosary and Mother of Vocations, it is fitting that, during the month of October, which is dedicated to praying the Rosary, we pray the Rosary for vocations.
If you already pray the Rosary in church or as a group, please offer the Rosary, and in particular, the Luminous Mysteries, for our young people and for their vocations. You can order a brochure here. Several versions of the Rosary for vocations can also be found online. Here is one online resource you can use with fellow parishioners.
EUCHARIST ADORATION
If you already regularly pray during Eucharistic Adoration at a local parish, please take some time to pray for our young people, that they may discern their vocations to marriage, priesthood, the permanent diaconate, the dedicated single life, and consecrated life, that is, as a consecrated virgin living in the world, or as a religious priest, brother or sister.
If you don’t regularly attend Eucharistic Adoration, please consider setting aside some time to prayer for vocations before the Blessed Sacrament. If your parish doesn’t provide times for Adoration, then you may need to contact or look at the bulletins of other parishes in your areas to find one that does. If you aren’t able to find a parish that provides times for Eucharistic Adoration, you can always visit your parish church during hours that it is open and pray for vocations before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle.
HOLY HOUR IN YOUR PARISH
Consider asking your pastor to provide a Holy Hour in your parish to pray for vocations. Alternatively, you can always join the Holy Hour for vocations at the beginning of the Young Adults Night that takes place on the First Saturday of the month after the evening Mass in parishes throughout the diocese. Even if you aren’t a young adult, you are most welcome to join the Holy Hour. To find the date and location of the next Young Adults Night, visit the Diocesan online calendar.
PRAY FOR A SEMINARIAN
You can use the following prayer to pray for a particular seminarian. If you don’t know a seminarian, pick up a seminarian prayer card from your parish or click here for names and photos of our seminarians.
God our Father,
Thank you for calling [name of seminarian] to prepare for priesthood.
Grant him the grace to grow closer to You through daily prayer.
Help him form his personality as a credible witness to others.
Bless him while he studies Your word and the teachings of the Church,
and give him a generous heart to serve Your people.
We ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. Amen.
PRAY FOR CANDIDATES
You can use the following prayer to pray for a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate, a candidate for Consecrated Virginity in the Word, or a religious sister. If you don’t know a candidate or a religious sister, pick up a prayer card from your parish.
Almighty and everlasting God,
the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.
We pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send our Diocese
Permanent Deacons, Consecrated Virgins Living in the World,
and Religious Brothers and Sisters.
Help us to support their formation and ministry
in thought, word and deed.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.