Vocation Awareness Week Video - ft. Bishop Robert Barron
During this 2024 Vocation Awareness Week, the Catholic Church invites the faithful to contemplate the sacred gift that is Vocation and pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. The Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood invites you to pray for the men in formation at St. Charles Seminary, as well as an increase in vocations to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
This week is a wonderful opportunity for parishes, schools, religious education programs, and communities to promote vocations among young people and to encourage our young church to pray for their future vocation.
Download the Vocation Awareness Week flyer below for the list of Vocation Office sponsored events and intentions to pray for on each day of the week!
During this weeklong celebration, families and communities across the Archdiocese are invited to gather at any of the following events to pray for, and support, vocations:
Daily
Join us on Instagram and Facebook every day this week for a testimony from our 5 Deacons as they prepare for priestly ordination!
Sunday, November 3, 2024: Opening Mass - St. Joseph Parish, Downingtown (338 Manor Avenue)
Fr. David O'Brien, Vocation Director, will be the homilist at the 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM Masses on Sunday. Following Mass, Fr. O'Brien will be available to greet parishioners and guests!
Thursday, November 7, 2024: Serra Club Newly Ordained Mass & Luncheon
Join the newly ordained priests with high school students and campus ministers across the Archdiocese for a mass celebrated by Bishop Cooke and luncheon honoring our 3 newly ordained priests (Father Bernard Ekeagwu, Father Gregory Miller, and Father Brendan Zehner). To register for the lunch or for more information please contact Lou Ferrero at lou.ferrero@gmail.com or (610) 517-0835.
Thursday, November 7, 2024: Philly Adoration for Vocations
Join the Vocation Office and parishes across the Archdiocese for the weekly Philly Adoration for Vocations! The Seminary will have adoration from 9am-4pm in the Immaculate Conception chapel, and to find a participating parish near you, visit: HeedTheCall.org/PhillyAdores.
We are thankful for your support and participation in prayer for the men in formation at St. Charles seminary and for more vocations to the Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia!
Sunday, November 10, 2024: Final Mass - St. Philip Neri, Lafayette Hill (437 Ridge Pike)
Join Fr. David O'Brien, Vocation Director, for mass as the celebrant and homilist at St. Philip Neri at 9 AM!
Resources from the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood:
Sample Prayers of the Faithful for Vocation Awareness Week
Video - Courage to Heed the Call (2023 Ordination)
Meditations - Rosary for Vocations (PDF)
Litany for Vocations - English and Spanish (PDF)
Meet our Seminarians - Video Vocation Stories of Philadelphia Seminarians
The links below contain online resources to be used to promote and encourage vocations including homily ideas, bulletin announcements, social media graphics and youth ministry resources.
Vianney Vocations - Vocation Awareness Week Resources
Ten Things You Can Do to Promote Vocations - USCCB
Twenty Ways to Promote Vocations in Your Parish and/or School - USCCB
8 Practical Ways to be a Catholic School That Promotes Vocations, by Rhonda Gruenewald
Video - Fill These Shoes (Archdiocese of Chicago)
Social Media Images have been created for use on various social media platforms. The zip files contain multiple images and will need to be extracted before using. If you use them, please tag the Vocation Office, @PhillyPriest!
How to Discern the Priesthood (Zip File)
Fostering Vocations in the Family (Zip File)
Attitudes for Discernment (Zip File)
Common Myths that Parents Have About the Priesthood (Zip File)
If you have any questions regarding these resources, or vocations in general, please do not hesitate to contact Fr. O'Brien, Vocation Director, or Melissa Kovatch, Associate Director, in the Vocation Office at 610-667-5778.