Vocations Ministry
Vocations Ministry at St. Clare Catholic Church encourages prayerful discernment of God’s call to priesthood, religious life, marriage, and single life. Through prayer, education, and support, the parish fosters a culture that nurtures and promotes vocations within the Church.
Pray for Vocations
YOU can help foster vocations in the Church through prayer by signing up to bring home a
Vocations Ministry Prayer Satchel
containing prayer materials and the icon of
“Christ the High Priest” to aid you in ONE WEEK of dedicated prayer for vocations.
To reserve a prayer satchel for 1 week,
you can sign up through the Sign-Up Genius
OR by scanning or clicking the QR code below:
“Without prayer we have neither the light
nor strength to advance
in the way which leads to God.”
-Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Why is Prayer Important for the Work of Vocations?
Prayer is the support that brings to fruition the seed of the vocation within the men and women who offer their lives to serve Our Lord. It is through the power of prayer that those seeking the priesthood and the consecrated life are sustained and nurtured. It is through the grace of daily prayer that you will partake in the work of building the culture of vocations. You will be a prayerful participant in the priest’s ordination.
Your ‘little prayers’ offered each day will make a great difference. In Mother Teresa’s words, “like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
(From the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington)
Prayer for Vocations
Father in Heaven, hear our prayers for Your blessing
upon our St Clare parish family.
We ask that You grant us the grace to clearly “hear”
Your Vocational Call to each of us.
By this grace, Lord, align our wills with Your loving plan for our lives.
May an abundance of faithful hearts joyfully give their “yes”
to lovingly and selflessly serve within Your Church.
Lord, raise up from our homes
Courageous and humble men to the Priesthood,
Faithful and docile people to the Consecrated Life and
Holy men and women to love and serve in the sacrament of Marriage.
Holy Spirit, help us to live our universal call to holiness,
by listening for the Father’s voice and responding with sacrificial love.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, protect and guide the men Your Son calls to the Priesthood;
help them to serve with pure and courageous hearts.
Most Blessed Mother, model of virtue, look over those who are called to Consecrated Life;
help them to serve with virtuous and faithful hearts.
Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord, help all married couples to love and serve
with Christ at the center of their hearts and their homes.
St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church and the “domestic church”, protect us
from the wickedness and snares of the devil, as we pursue God’s plan for our lives.
Amen.
The Parish Vocation Committee recognizes that every Catholic Christian has a unique calling from God for service in the Church by virtue of their Baptism. Some are called to serve as single people, some to the Sacrament of Matrimony and family life, some to ordained ministry as priest or deacon and some to religious life as consecrated brother, sister, or nun.
The committee fosters and promotes vocations through prayer, activities, and events which raise awareness of our need to respond to God’s grace for service. The Parish Vocation Cross is presented to a parishioner or family at one of the weekend Masses and travels from home to home within the parish. The Vocation Committee has planned fundraising events for the benefit of the Vocations Office. We also have hosted seminarians for dinner at the end of their annual retreat.
The committee invites parishioners who have a desire to pray for, study, and work for, a deeper understanding of God’s call in each individual’s life. The committee holds periodic meetings which provide orientation based on Church teachings, resources, and suggested activities for individuals and families at St. Clare.
For more information, contact:
Dana Van Overen
vanosix@att.net
(916) 772-4717