National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer, invitation, and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. For social media posts, use #NationalVocationAwarenessWeek or #NVAW. Please avail yourself of the many resources NRVC offers to help promote NVAW in your community, parish, school, or campus ministry office.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Sunday, April 30th
The purpose of World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life.
While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity), secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life. ~USCCB website
Prayer for Vocations
O Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church,
to you we commend our young people,
in particular those called to follow your Son
as brothers, sisters, and priests.
You know, O Mary, the struggles, doubts,
and obstacles they must face.
Assist them to answer Yes to the divine call,
as you did at the invitation of the angel.
Draw them near to your heart so that
they can understand the joy that awaits them
when they answer your Son’s call
to be witnesses of His love in the world.
Amen.
The Gift of Mission
On Wednesday, February 15th, in collaboration with an inter-congregational team of vocation directors from the National Religious Vocations Conference – Delaware Valley member area, the Missionary Sisters participated in presenting The Gift of Mission vocation awareness program to students at Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, PA. Students from each of the grades were in attendance.
The program is an interactive way of creating greater awareness of vocational call, in particular, the call to religious life. Students participate in prayer, ice breakers, a discernment exercise and listen to presentations on the various aspects of charism and religious life.
This is National Vocation Awareness Week – November 6 – 12
National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. In 2014, after extensive consultation, the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort
Sunday, May 8th is World Day of Prayer for Vocations
This special day, also liturgically known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, invites the Church to publicly pray for and promote vocations in all its forms.
Many parishes and religious institutes commemorate this day with prayer for vocations and vocation promotion events. Considering that 73 percent of women and men professing final vows participated in one or more parish activities and 88 percent served in one or more parish ministries before entering religious life, our presence and participation in activities that mark this special day is essential.
[Religious congregations] should consider asking local parishes for opportunities to speak, pray, and meet the parishioners before and after Masses. ~ NRVC website
It the joy of simplicity, the joy experienced daily by those who care for what truly matters: faithful closeness to God and to our neighbor. How good it would be if the same atmosphere, simple and radiant, sober and hopeful, were to pervade our seminaries, religious houses and presbyteries! I pray that you will experience this same joy, dear brothers and sisters who have generously made God the dream of your lives, serving him in your brothers and sisters through a fidelity that is a powerful testimony in an age of ephemeral choices and emotions that bring no lasting joy.
May Saint Joseph, protector of vocations, accompany you with his fatherly heart!
–Pope Francis, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2021
The Gift of Mission Program presented at Villa Joseph Marie
As an integral part of their vocation promotion outreach, the Missionary Sisters are members of the National Religious Vocations Conference (NRVC). The NRVC has established member-areas throughout the United States and internationally toward the accomplishment of their vision “to set the world ablaze with the fire of God’s love through the prophetic, joyful witness of religious sisters, brothers and priests as radical disciples of Jesus.”
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the NRVC, which is comprised of many women’s and men’s religious congregations, meets regularly. Part of their vocation outreach is to present The Gift of Mission, an interactive vocation awareness program, to high school students. This has been the practice since 2010. The pandemic, unfortunately, suspended such programs for two years. However, with Covid subsiding in many parts of the area, the Delaware Valley Chapter members responded positively to an invitation from NRVC Board Chair Sr. Mindy Welding, IHM, to present The Gift of Mission at Villa Joseph Marie High School in Southampton, PA on Thursday, March 3rd.
The Director of Campus Ministry there, Mrs. Stephanie McCarthy, shared this feedback on the students’ reaction to the day:
“I wanted to thank you again for making your way to Villa yesterday. The girls truly LOVED the day. One turned to me and said, “Mrs. McCarthy can we do this EVERYDAY?!” The schedule you facilitated certainly encouraged them to want more. We celebrated Mass today for our feast of St. Casimir and Father spoke about answering God’s call. I was almost moved to tears by this connection to Gift of Mission and I imagine the hearts of these 18 young women were stirred as well.
The movements of the Holy Spirit were palpable. Several of the girls found me yesterday afternoon or today to share more excitement about the retreat day. I will do a follow-up with them soon. (cont’d next page)
Thank you for your vocational ministry. If you ever feel discouraged please look back at yesterday’s retreat as consolation that God is most certainly working through you. I cannot thank you enough for your vocational YES and for your invitational YES to be with us yesterday. You are always welcome at Villa. If you ever want to connect with our students please just reach out to me.”
The vocation directors were uplifted by, and most grateful for, Stephanie McCarthy’s hope-filled and positive comments. The hope, as a member area, is that more Gift of Mission programs can be scheduled for the upcoming academic year.
Cabrini Sisters Gather in NYC for Perpetual Vows
Cabrini Sisters Gather in NYC for Perpetual Vows
More than 50 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from around the world gathered at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City to witness the perpetual vows of three Sisters from Ethiopia.
Sr. Asnakech Asefa, MSC, Sr. Aynalem Paulos, MSC, and Sr. Berhane Ashebo, MSC made lifelong vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the presence of Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC, General Superior. Each asked the Holy Spirit to transform their consecration “into a commitment of love, an offering of praise, adoration and reparation in the Cabrinian spirit, so that I may bring the love of the Heart of Jesus to
the World.”
“Religious life and the missionary calling are alive and growing,” said Sr. Barbara following the Mass, “It is a blessing to welcome these Sisters into a vibrant, perpetual relationship with Christ. The world needs them, because it needs Jesus.”
The Missionary Sisters follow in the footsteps of St. Frances Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants. They seek to respond to the unmet needs of those excluded from basic human rights. Active in 17 countries, their missions include schools, hospitals and clinics, spirituality centers, low income housing for the elderly; and community-based immigrant and social services.
Sr. Evarlyn Ndeti, who entered the novitiate earlier this month, found the ceremony deeply moving. “I am so inspired to see these women committing their lives completely to Jesus,” she said.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Thomas Faiola, OFM. Cap, with Rev. Ambiorix Rodriguez assisting. Missionary Sisters from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Italy, Nicaragua, Russia, Uganda, and the United States joyfully welcomed their new Sisters with the pax tecum, an embrace of welcome.
National Vocation Awareness Week – November 7- 13
National Vocation Awareness Week
November 7 – 13, 2021
~ Vatican News by Lisa Zengarini
As the Church in the United States prepares to celebrate the National Vocation Awareness Week this month, the Chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, calls attention to the central role played by family and local faith communities in supporting them.
“The accompaniment of the whole faith community is key for genuine vocational discernment – from one’s parents and family members, to the Catholic educators, as well as the vital role that youth ministers and fellow parishioners play as the early encounters for young people to the faith,” said Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, NJ.
This was confirmed by the latest research figures published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in February of this year. According to the survey, three quarters of religious men and women who professed their perpetual vows in the United States in 2020 came from families in which both parents are Catholic. Nine in ten reported that someone encouraged them to consider a vocation to religious life.
From the National Religious Vocations Conference
Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. In 2014, after extensive consultation, the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort.
FACTS about RELIGIOUS LIFE – WHAT YOU CAN DO
66% of newer entrants were invited to consider religious life. An invitation is key. Please invite someone to consider a religious vocation.
Over 500 candidates/postulants are in initial formation in the U.S. Consider sending them a note of encouragement.
67% of women’s religious institutes include faith sharing as part of their prayer life. Invite a young adult to join you and your community in prayer.
88% of religious institutes accept new members. Invite a discerner to a meal with your community.
95% of perpetually professed sisters, brothers and priests have earned at least a college degree and 70% have a master’s degree or more. Visit a college campus and introduce yourself to the students.
To access more interesting facts about religious life and vocations, please click here
National Vocation Awareness Week
National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. In 2014, after extensive consultation, the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort. For social media posts, use either #NVAW or #NationalVocationAwarenessWeek
February 2nd is World Day for Consecrated Life
About World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated on February 2nd however, it is observed in parishes on the Sunday after February 2nd. In 2021, this day will be celebrated in parishes February 6-7, 2021.
“This then is the consecrated life: praise which gives joy to God’s people, prophetic vision that reveals what counts. Consecrated life is not about survival, it is not about preparing ourselves for ars bene moriendi: this is the temptation of our days, in the face of declining vocations. No, it is not about survival, but new life. “But… there are only a few of us…” – it’s about new life. It is a living encounter with the Lord in his people. It is a call to the faithful obedience of daily life and to the unexpected surprises from the Spirit. It is a vision of what we need to embrace in order to experience joy: Jesus” –Pope Francis, WDCL Homily on February 2, 2019
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