To parish priests

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Good Shepherd Sunday falls on 29th April 2012. On this Sunday, the Church invites us to pray specifically for vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life.

In his message for the day, Pope Benedict takes the theme “Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God”. He hopes that local communities ‘will become places where vocations are carefully discerned and their authenticity tested, places where young men and women are offered wise and strong spiritual direction.’ That is a challenging vision for parishes to achieve but as the Holy Father points out ‘In this way, the Christian Community itself becomes a manifestation of the Love of God in which every calling is contained.’

This autumn will see the launch of the National Vocations Framework which we hope will help you and you parishioners to grow the culture of vocation at the local level. The Framework will enable you to do this in your parish with regional and national support. Thank you for all the work you already do throughout the year to nurture vocations, most especially by remaining faithful to your own calling to be a true witness to Christ’s love.

Yours in Christ,

Rt. Rev Christopher Jamison OSB

Director, National Office for Vocation