I pray that you and yours are safe and healthy!
As we move into fall, we have special days for promoting vocations that are nearing! International Buy Your Priest a Beer Day is on September 9th! Of course, this day is about creating fellowship with your priest, so you can bring him cookies or take him to dinner, too. It is all in fun!
In the next few weeks, be on the lookout for a special edition of the State of Vocations in the United States newsletter with more details than ever before.
Last but not least, Priesthood Sunday is September 27th, so I wanted to let you know of a new fun campaign that Vocation Ministry is launching along with some particular things you could do to affirm your priest(s) at your parish!
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We are excited to share with you our new Priesthood Sunday campaign that kicks off TODAY!
Vocation Ministry wants to highlight your priest! Priesthood Sunday is just around the corner. Send an awesome image of your priest with an accompanying story of how he has shown Christ’s light in your life to jamie@vocationministry.com. We will share some of these images and stories the week of Priesthood Sunday at Vocation Ministry's Facebook page.
Deadline for Submissions is September 16.
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At your parish or individually, you can ask others to affirm their priest in some way:
- pray, fast, and offer sacrifices for him
- email him a note of affirmation
- send him spiritual bouquets or a card of thanks and support
- send him an Amazon gift card or restaurant gift card
- make a donation to the parish in his name
- if you feel comfortable doing so, invite him to dinner
- if you did not hold him a Car Parade during the Uplift Your Priest campaign after Easter, this is a great time to do that.
Make him feel like a valued and loved member of your family!
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Register to Attend Vocation Ministry's
Women in White Virtual Gala
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Last year, we held Men in Black: Game On! a benefit dinner for Vocation Ministry with 300 people in attendance. This year, our benefit dinner Women in White: Celebrating Sisters has gone virtual with a digital auction of silent and live auction items, incredible raffles, and a wine pull.
We will also have a program via Zoom that will feature Sister Joseph Andrew, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the fastest growing order of sisters in the US, which will be held on September 15 from 7-8:15PM. To receive the Zoom link and/or bid on auction items, click on the REGISTER HERE button below. The Zoom link and schedule of events will be sent on September 13th.
- Click on the button below to get to the Home Page of the Site
- Click on the "Register to Attend" from the left hand menu
- Select a ticket for the Virtual FREE benefit dinner
- Sign-in, putting in your information, including address
- Then, you should receive a text message/email that says "Welcome to the Annual Benefit Dinner 2020!
Also, to win either of the AMAZING raffles, you must be on the Zoom call.
- Marriage Pilgrimage Raffle: a trip for two to the Holy Land pilgrimage including airfare from Houston
- Golden Ticket Raffle: winner picks the live auction item of their choice
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ~ St. Teresa of Calcutta
We can't wait to see you on Zoom!!
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A Vocation-Producing Parish |
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You can do this, too!!!
Since 2012 Christ the King Church in Little Rock has produced:
- 7 priests*
- 2 deacons who will be priests in May 2021
- 3 Seminarians
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Keep striving to create a culture of vocations at your parish! It takes time, but we know it can happen. The recipe for success is a supportive priest, a ministry willing to put in the work, and a supportive youth program(s).
*Including three sets of brothers:
Father Stephen Hart and Father Andrew Hart, Father Stephen Elser and Christopher Elser and Father Patrick Friend and Father Joseph Friend.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT THEY DO AT THEIR PARISH
- Most everyone you talk to about Christ the King’s success in fostering vocations points first to devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. “Having perpetual adoration (is when) we started to see young men respond,” Msgr. Malone said. “There’s nothing greater than the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a 24/7 deal; we have people there 24/7 praying and in particular praying for, among other intentions, an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. So, it’s just not a coincidence, it can’t be a coincidence.”
- Traveling vocations chalice that weekly makes the rounds in parishioners’ homes. Mary Battreal, who chairs the parish’s hand-picked vocations committee, said it’s not an issue finding hosts. “It’s not difficult at all anymore, I have people calling me.”
- Equally impactful is a second “chalice,” a poster with photos of every Christ the King seminarian that is passed from one Christ the King School class to another following Friday’s school Mass.
- The children write letters or prepare goody packages for young men away at seminary and pray for them throughout the year.
- Many parishioners and parents also credit the 2,000-family parish’s active youth ministry program and the influence of Catholic High School on these young men’s decision to discern their calling.
- “I’m not embarrassed or shy about asking a young man,” the pastor said. “When they start serving Mass in seventh grade, I’ll say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great one day if you wore these vestments? Help me up the steps, celebrate Mass together?’ And, you can see the reaction on the faces of young men as they serve Mass with me around the church.”
- Moreover, he added, “we have encouraged people not to be afraid to ask someone, ‘Do you think the Lord is calling you to the priesthood? You have all the things that it seems the Lord would want in a young man to pursue this calling.' And so our people are no longer bashful about that."
Read the whole article HERE.
Start today to make your parish vocation-producing
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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!
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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Vocations Today Weekly Podcast |
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! |
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