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| Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison speaks to diocesan seminarians during this year’s Seminarian Gathering held at Camp Gray in Reedsburg. (Contributed photo) |
WASHINGTON — The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week on November 1-7.
This annual weeklong celebration is an opportunity for dioceses and parishes in the United States to uphold and promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and Consecrated Life and encourage the faithful to renew their prayerful support for those currently discerning one of these calls.
This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unforeseen challenges in the lives of many throughout the country.
Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, offered that these current challenges provide an opportunity for genuine discernment fully rooted and dependent upon Christ.
“These unusual and difficult times have brought much uncertainty and fear into our lives, but we know in faith that Christ’s powerful hand extends over all of us in mercy. I invite those discerning a vocation to use this time to prayerfully renew your love for Christ and recognize your complete dependence upon Him who loves and calls you uniquely,” he said.Data from recent studies show an encouraging picture for vocations.
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released its annual study on seminary formation enrollment in June 2020, showing steady enrollment over the past decade, despite experiencing a slight decrease in 2019-2020 compared to 2018-2019.
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration.
In 1997, the celebration was moved to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and in 2014, the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November in order to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in calling attention to the importance of vocations.
Resources for parishes to use in preparation for National Vocation Awareness Week, including homily aids, recommended reading and discernment tips, prayers of the faithful, and bulletin-ready quotes are available online at: https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week
For more information in the Diocese of Madison, contact the Office of Vocations at 608-821-3088, email [email protected] or go to the website at www.madisonvocations.org