National Vocations Awareness Week Set for November 5-11

WASHINGTON—TheCatholic Church in the United States will celebrate National VocationsAwareness Week, November 5-11, 2017. This annual event is a special time forparishes in the United States to actively foster and pray for a culture ofvocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

CardinalJoseph Tobin, the Chair of the US Bishops' Committee on Clergy, ConsecratedLife, and Vocations, reminds us that each of us in the Church has a key role toplay in the witness of our vocation in ordinary circumstances, "As we go aboutour everyday life and most especially this week, we must keep vocations in ourprayers, while, at the same time, being a mindful witness with our ownvocation. We may never know how our lives may have an impact on someone else'sstory. Simply living out our call asdisciples of Jesus Christ fully and joyfully in the world bears witness to thelove of Christ as He generously bestows on each of us our own personal call."

NationalVocations Awareness Week, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops'(USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, is designed tohelp promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask thequestion: "To what vocation in life is God calling me?" Parish and schoolcommunities across the nation are encouraged to include, during the first fullweek in November, prayer and special activities that focus on vocationawareness.  

Observanceof Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of theBaptism of the Lord in January. The USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Lifeand Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to Novemberto engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort.  

Moreinformation and resources for National Vocations Awareness Week, including aprayer card, homily aids, suggested prayers of the faithful and bulletin-readyquotes are available online at: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week.cfm.

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Cardinal JosephTobin, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, vocations, NationalVocation Awareness Week, priesthood, religious life, vocation, diaconate,Catholic education, young people, ministry, prayer

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