KLOESEL: Praying for vocations makes a difference

(Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

In Northern Italy, the rural Village of Lu had a population of about 1,200 people. The Sacraments were scarce as there was little accessibility to priests. A group of mothers decided to take action. Under the direction of their parish priests, mothers gathered together once a week to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament with their intentions, imploring the Lord for more priestly and religious vocations from their own families.

Over 300 vocations came from this small town in the years following. The fruits of their persistence and dedication to praying for vocations were extremely evident.

In our own Archdiocese, it is no coincidence certain parishes that prioritize praying for vocations (among other things) have more vocations coming from those parishes. The parish that says a prayer for vocations after every daily Mass has the highest number of priests per capita from that parish.

At another church in our Archdiocese, a parishioner was persistent in asking her pastor and prayed that one hour of Adoration a month would be dedicated to praying for vocations. Ever since the pastor agreed, parishioners gather once a month in the Adoration chapel to pray a Rosary for vocations and other prayers imploring our Lord for an increase in vocations.

During the adoration hour, a volunteer reads aloud all the names of the young men and women from that parish who are in formation for the priesthood or religious life. I recently attended the hour of Adoration for vocations at that parish and had chills hearing the wonderful amount of young men and women from that one parish being prayed for during their formational years.

It is not by chance that the Village of Lu and certain parishes in our Archdiocese have had several men and women respond to God’s call. The harvest is abundant. There is not a shortage of men and women being called in the world. There is, however, a shortage of laborers responding to that call. “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” (Mt 9:37)

I challenge you to take action at your parish. Do we care about having accessibility to the Sacraments? The time is now. Consider asking those whom you pray with to add a vocations prayer at the beginning or end of your Rosary. Be bold.

Ask your pastor to host an hour of Adoration specifically to pray for more people to respond to God’s call.

1.7 million Catholics in the Archdiocese are relying on you to take action within your parish to intentionally pray for more vocations. Will you gather a group together to pray that the youth may respond to God’s call? Please reach out to the Office of Vocations for support with your efforts. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mt 22:14)

Let us help the next generation more freely and easily choose priesthood and religious life. †

Johanna Kloesel is the vocations parish programs manager at the Office of Vocations.