Sometimes. We hear this complaint: “When is the church going to do something about the shortage of priests? Each year it gets worse and worse, and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. We need the church more than ever, but parishes are being forced to merge or close because priests are not available.”
Well, my answer is that the Catholic Church is, through our own prayers, continually involved in promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This effort is making some inroads, even in a culture that seems to marginalize the priesthood and in which parents are often reluctant to have a son choose the seminary because they have different hopes for him. We need to remember that vocations are generally borne in good Catholic families, where there is a ton of love, prayer, and support.
A key factor in promoting vocations is personal encouragement from other Catholics. Recently, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate determined that 350,000 single Catholic males in the U.S. have "very seriously" considered a vocation to the priesthood, but only 1,000 enter a seminary or novitiate each year. That same study shows that if a young man has three people encourage him toward the priesthood, he is five times more likely to consider such a vocation. Interesting, isn’t it?
Starting this Sunday, the Catholic Church in the U.S. once again will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week. The purpose of the NVAW is to publicly recognize vocations in all its forms. We do this through prayer, education, and promotion for all vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. It is a great opportunity for all of us to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of those vocations, especially for young people in our parish community that they may respond generously with open hearts and willing spirits when the Lord calls them.
God bless, Fr. Gregg
Prayer for Holy Vocations
“O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest, send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you. Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth. Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”