FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

“Dear friends, on this day in particular,
but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities,
I ask the Church to continue to promote vocations.  May she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God’s call in their lives, to find courage to say ‘yes’ to God.” 
Pope Francis
 
My dear friends,
 
This Sunday, May 8, is known as Good Shepherd Sunday.  It is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  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 labourers 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 of priesthood and the 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. 
 
2022 marks the 59th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
 
One may ask, “where are the vocations to the priesthood today?”  Well, they are in our classrooms, our places of work, and around our kitchen tables.  The challenge is how does one hear this calling when there is so much noise in the world.  It is in the quiet and stillness of the heart where the Lord speaks to us.  And the opportunity is for us to tap that young man on the shoulder and to plant the seed, saying “I see the qualities of a priest in you,” or “have you ever considered being a priest?”  If it were not for Bishop Wingle, I would not be here today.
 
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us unite our prayers together with those throughout the world as we pray to our Lord that hearts be open to a vocation, and may those discerning response with a heartfelt and generous yes.
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg