Happy Lent! I pray that this season of reflection, sacrifice and repentance is extremely fruitful for you. We have a few days coming up: Religious Brothers Day and World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
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Religious Brothers Day- May 1st
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If you have a parishioner who has answered the call to religious brotherhood, please make it known to your parishioners through the bulletin, a poster board at the back of church, announcement at Mass.
Bulletin Blurb:
May 1 (
Feast of "St. Joseph the Worker"
), the Church celebrates Religious Brothers Day, when we share our gratitude for them and p
ray for Brothers, for those in discernment, and for many others to be open to and respond to the call to this vocation.
Ways to honor the event include:
- prayer (using the prayer card to the right- click on it to download, offering up Masses, etc.),
- encouragement (writing letters to communities of brothers, visiting them, calling to thank them, etc.),
- material support (monetary and physical donations).
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World Day of Prayer for Vocations- May 3rd
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As you plan with your ministry what to do, remember that giving your parishioners the opportunity to pray for vocations is the purpose of the day. Use this checklist to get started.
____Prayer for Vocations in bulletin
____Make announcement at Masses
____Prayer for vocations in the prayers of the faithful
____Prayer cards handed out after Mass
____Rosary said for vocations before each weekend Mass
____A Family Holy Hour
____Launch Adoration for Vocations
____Launch Traveling Chalice (for those farther along in the phases)
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Vocations Today- New Podcast
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I am thrilled to announce something new from Vocation Ministry, a podcast about vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and marriage. You will hear uplifting news stories, great interviews with sisters, brothers, priests, seminarians and married couples and tips to promoting vocations in your family and parish!
Subscribe today on all your typical podcast platforms by searching for
Vocations Today
! Let’s build up the Church together!
Episode #1- How did Vocation Ministry get started?
Episode #2- State of Priestly Vocations in the US Catholic Church
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A New Program Coordinator
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You can reach her at:
346-213-3034
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Due the generosity of many of you who joined the Liguori Society and donated through the Benefit Dinner, we hired another program coordinator.
Jamie will be the point person for those ministry members in the Eastern Time Zone. She will be reaching out to priests and parishioners, who attended workshops, to assess what is happening at parishes for vocations and how we can best help your ministry till the soil for vocations. So, if you hear from Jamie, let her know how your parish is fostering a culture of vocations! Welcome, Jamie!
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Ministry in Action from
the Diocese of San Angelo, TX
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In May of 2018, Vocation Ministry gave a workshop in the Diocese of San Angelo, where HISTORY was made.
100% of attendees of the Hundredfold Workshop said they were Highly Likely to start/continue a Vocation Ministry at their parish!! I was shocked by the 75+ in attendanc
e for a diocese of 80,000 Catholics which encompasses 37,433 square miles.
World Marriage Day
National Marriage Week
The vocation ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Abilene, which is in the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, celebrated marriages by decorating the church and reception hall for a wedding celebration.
When parishioners arrived at the church and looked around, they
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curiously wondered about what was going on.
During the homily, the pastor mentioned National Marriage Week and the beauty of the sacrament of marriage. Then, he invited all married couples to stand and gave them a blessing. In the final announcements, married parishioners and their families were invited to the parish hall. When they arrived, they noticed that the hall was also decorated for a wedding reception. A parishioner kindly donated a wedding cake and a DJ was hired to provide music, including a wedding waltz. The parishioners that attended enjoyed the experience tremendously.
Keep up the great work Sacred Heart vocation ministry!
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Remember that if you want to see past newsletters you can find them at VocationMinistry.com under the Resources tab.
Don’t forget to email me with your stories of triumph or struggle. If you have questions, know that I am here to support you in this mission of Building a Culture of Vocations One Parish at a Time!
As always, know that you are in my prayers. If you think of it, please pray for me, too.
God bless you!
Rhonda Gruenewald
Vocation Ministry
Cell: 281-352-4005
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Pray For Us!
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A Facebook Group for YOU!
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This group is dedicated to the laypeople looking for support while promoting vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and marriage in a diocese or at a parish in a Vocation Ministry or Committee.
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