Father Rheo Ofalsa, left, and Diocese of Honolulu seminarian Vincent Anh Vu promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life at the first annual Damien and Marianne Catholic Conference, Oct. 20 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Father Ofalsa is the director of the diocesan Office of Vocations, which provides resources and support to men and women in discernment. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week, Nov. 5-11, 2017. This annual event is a special time for parishes and schools to actively foster and pray for a culture of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, reminds us that each of us has a key role to play in the witness of our vocation in ordinary circumstances.
“As we go about our everyday life and most especially this week, we must keep vocations in our prayers while at the same time being a mindful witness with our own vocation,” Cardinal Tobin said.
“We may never know how our lives may have an impact on someone else’s story. Simply living out our call as disciples of Jesus Christ fully and joyfully in the world bears witness to the love of Christ as he generously bestows on each of us our own personal call.”
National Vocations Awareness Week is designed to help promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask the question, “To what vocation in life is God calling me?”
Observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976, when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for the celebration. It was later moved to Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. The USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to engage Catholic schools and colleges more effectively in this effort.
