As part of our centenary year, vocations director Fr Graham Smith is asking every deanery to hold a holy hour to pray for young people who discern their service in the Church, the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life. Brentwood priests and seminarians will also share their vocations stories in series of talks which will take place each month in different parishes.
Fr Graham writes:
In our centenary year the people in our diocese are invited to pray for vocations to publicly fulfil the Lord’s instruction to, ‘Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest’ (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).
It is important that prayer is continually offered throughout the Church at this time of need to affirm the primacy of prayer in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life.
While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life.
So join us in a holy hour in your deanery so that God may give our young men and women the gift of understanding to discern their service in the Church, the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life; that they may know the personal love of the Lord for them, and respond with open and generous hearts; and for the gift of courage to follow His call.
