God is calling young men to the priesthood … We can help them hear His call in a noisy world.
Know someone who might be called to the priesthood?
Will you pray for vocations?
At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”
(Matthew 9:36-38).
Here are some great ways to pray for vocations:
- Offer a daily spiritual bouquet of an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be asking God to raise up excellent and abundant priests for our diocese
- Pray the Vocations Prayer of the Diocese of Sioux Falls
- Offer a Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations
- Offer your participation at Mass or the merits of your adoration time for vocations
- Offer a simple fast (give up sweets, coffee or dessert for a day) asking God to bless our diocese with vocations
Invitation matters – you can help!
Yearly surveys of seminarians and many personal testimonies from seminarians consistently indicate that an invitation to consider priesthood from family, friends, coaches, mentors and priests was very influential in their decision to consider pursuing seminary formation.
Do you know a young man who shows signs of a possible vocation to priesthood?
They include:
- He has spoken of his desire for or openness to considering the possibility of priesthood
- He regularly attends Mass and Confession
- He is a grateful person
- He has a heart for service: volunteers and shows concern for others
- He is healthy and well adjusted for his age—if you had a daughter his age, you’d be happy to hear that your daughter went on a date with him
- He loves being Catholic
- He enjoys learning about the faith
- He is prayerful
- He shows concern for others
- He takes interest in people
- You would be happy and encouraged if you heard he entered seminary
- Talk to a priest in your parish, let them know what you see AND
- If you have a personal relationship with the young man, tell him what you see in him, and ask him if he has ever prayerfully considered the possibility of going to the seminary AND
- Pass along his name to our diocesan Vocations Team
- We will reach out to the pastor of the parish and find out more about the young man
- We will strive to connect the young man with people in his life who can
- Help him experience more of God’s personal love for him
- Encourage him in the basic practices of growing discipleship
- Daily prayer
- Frequent reception of the sacraments
- A daily diet of the Word of God
- Good fellowship
- Opportunities for service
- Offer a personal invitation to him in age-appropriate diocesan events to deepen his faith
- Discipleship camps (jr. and sr. high)
- Retreat experiences
- Seminary visits
- Attending ordinations at the cathedral
The goal of the Vocations Team is not “to get the guy in the seminary.”
The goal is to help the young man grow in his life of faith and discipleship so
- He can more easily hear God’s vocational call, whatever that may be AND
- Respond to God with freedom and generosity
Whose Plan?
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—says the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart”
(Jeremiah 29:11-13).
We can pose a more meaningful question to young people
in our families and among our friends.
Many young people are asked routinely: What do you want to be when you grow up?
From a Christian perspective, a more compelling and adventurous question is: What does God want you to be when you grow up?
God who made you, God who loves you, God who desires your happiness more than you do and knows how to bring that about—what do you think he has planned for you? Who has he made you to be in his plan of love?