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What can a parend do to foster their child voction to the priesthood or religious life? Ten ideas are offered here by the Armagh Diocesan Vocations Commission. They also offer the ideas for priests, school teachers and parishioners, so there is something here for everyone. Vocations Promotion Ideas: Archdiocese of Armagh (Adapted from the Diocese of Rockville, New York) Ten things I can do as a Parent 1. Explain the idea of "vocation.": Define the word "vocation" to your children. Stress how a vocation is different from a profession or career, and how it is distinguished from one's lifestyle. Our vocation is who we are. Explain how through baptism we have each received certain gifts that we will use in living out the vocation that God has intended for us. 2. Suggest a priestly or religious vocation for your child: It takes a great deal of generosity on the part of a parent to suggest a vocation to the priesthood or religious life for your child. Some young people will not consider this as an option for their life unless they have been asked. Be generous. Do the asking. 3. Share your vocation story: Let your children know that you have a vocation - that of husband and wife, mum/dad. Share with them the story of how you fell in love and how you felt when they were born. Your children will treasure these stories and lead them to consider what their own vocation might be 4. Serve in a parish ministry: Consider becoming a lector, Eucharistic minister, usher, catechist or some other parish minister. Not only will you be helping your parish, but you will be setting an example for your children. It will make your family part of the parish family and inspire service. 5. Show support: Often times when a young person does express an interest in the priesthood or religious life, they do not receive support and encouragement from their parents. Explore how you would feel if your child were to express a desire for a church vocation. It could lead to a healthy and more productive dialogue with your child. 6. Pray: Provide opportunities for prayer in your home everyday. Make it a normal part of decision-making. Pray in particular for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Ask God to bless the priests and religious known to your children by name. Pray for those who are in formation for a priestly or religious vocation. 7. Create a peaceful atmosphere in your home: The "busy-ness" of our lives can become overwhelming. The constant hunger for activity can prevent us from taking the time we need to sit in silence and stillness. Create an atmosphere in your home where the abiding presence of the Lord can be felt. 8. Speak positively about priests and religious: Our words and attitudes make an enormous impression on our children. By speaking positively about priests and religious, you will foster a set of values that will promote the respect and gratitude that is due to those who serve God's church so faithfully. 9. Read the Bible: Read the Bible or other books of a spiritual nature to your children, or encourage them to read on their own. Talk about the significance of what you have read. Keep the Bible in an accessible place in you home. Nothing nourishes a priestly or religious vocation like the sacred scriptures 10. Love: The best and holiest thing any of us can do for our children is to love them. By loving them and expressing this love they will have the courage and faith they need to allow the Holy Spirit to work within them and guide them to receiving their particular vocation. So just love them. Ten things I can do as a Teacher 1. Develop vocation oriented projects: Have students work on projects with vocation themes. This can be done through poster contests, creative writing, photography, interviews and a variety of other activities. This will also encourage student interaction with sisters, brothers and priests and lead to a deeper understanding of vocations. 2. Encourage service: Serving the Lord by loving our neighbour is an idea that is central to our faith. There are numerous ways that this service can be lived out. Have someone speak to your students about the opportunities to serve that exist in the parish. Service to others is one way that we can best imitate Jesus 3. Create a "Vocation Bulletin Board": Devote a bulletin board in your classroom to highlighting a particular priest, sister or brother and display their picture and a short biography. Identify & explain their work and the many ministries they are involved in. 4. Explore scripture: The classroom setting is the perfect place to spend time reading and reflecting on the way vocation is presented in scripture. Consider the different ways those in scripture stories are called to their vocation and how they respond to that call. 5. Sponsor field trips: Take your students on a field trip to a religious community, seminary or the parochial house. A familiarity with the lifestyle of priests and religious- seeing how they live, work and pray- may be appealing to some young people and may aid them in the discernment of a church vocation. 6. Pray: Of all the ways we can work toward the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, prayer is undoubtedly the most essential. Make a commitment to pray for this intention as a class. Consider praying for a particular priest or religious. 7. Make vocation literature available: The Diocesan Vocation Office has materials that will gladly be shared with you for distribution and for discussion in your classes. You may even want some literature available on a table in a corner of the room that your students can feel free to take and read on their own. 8. Acquaint students with the various ministries in the church: Inform your students as to the different ministries that are present in the church. Remind them to make their unique gifts & talents available to the parish community in a variety of ways. 9. Invite a priest or religious brother or sister to speak to your class: Having priests and religious share their stories about how they came to their particular vocation is a great way to spend a class period. Allow time for discussion so that the students can air some of their thoughts and ask questions about religious and priestly vocations. 10. Attend diocesan sponsored events as a class: There are many events that take place in the diocese that would be enhanced by the participation of young people. Consider attending one of these events as a class or plan your own vocation event! This will increase their awareness & stress the importance of the need for vocations in the church. Ten things I can do as a Priest 1. Preach about vocations. In the Gospels we read the story of how Jesus chose his first disciples. Their stories were as vital to the early church as your story is to the church today. Whether it is dramatic, ordinary, inspiring or mundane, share your vocation story and invite others to share theirs! 2. Greet Parishioners: The simple act of greeting parishioners after Sunday and daily Mass is an excellent way to promote a friendly, caring atmosphere in your parish. Such environments will serve as the foundation that is necessary for nurturing vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 3. Recognize altar servers. There is an undeniably strong link between altar servers and a future in the priesthood. Giving altar servers recognition in some way during mass is an excellent way to make them feel special and give an increased importance and holiness to their service. 4. Pray: Of all the ways we can work toward the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, prayer is undoubtedly the most essential. During the General Intercessions, include a petition for the increase of church vocations. Encourage Eucharistic Adoration 5. Spend time with youth: Young people need to see priests as approachable and friendly. Attend their activities or find ways that they can be helpful to you. Consider offering them employment in the parish. Friendships between youth & priests can often aid in the discernment of a church vocation. 6. Attend Vocations Events: These are opportunities of prayer and conversation They allow young men to share their thoughts, questions and concerns with priests in an informal setting. 7. Extend an invitation: Many people claim that they were never invited to explore a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Extend this invitation to young people who you think might have a church vocation. Your invitation could make a difference in their lives. 8. Exhibit a love of priesthood: It is encouraging to see a man who is enthusiastic about living out his priestly vocation. Your positive, prayerful attitude will help others recognize that the vocation of priest is worthwhile, valuable and fulfilling. Be an inspiration. 9. Visit Classrooms: It is only natural that vocations should be addressed in an educational setting. Talk to the students about the meaning of "vocation" & encourage them to consider their own vocation. You will always be welcomed by the students, even if only because it means a break from the routine! 10. Encourage cooperation among the different ministries in your parish: It is only by the cooperation of the entire community, with members responding to the vocation they received through baptism, that we will be able to create the proper environment to foster the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life - with the Holy Spirit leading the way Ten things I can do as a Parishioner 1. Offer friendship to priests and religious: Whether it be sharing a meal, taking a walk, or simply having a conversation after mass, make an effort to share friendship with priests and religious. Healthy friendships will foster awareness, communication and respect for the lifestyle and needs of each person. Feelings of happiness and satisfaction will be the sure result! 2. Say thank you: We all know that it feels good to be thanked for a job well done. Say "thanks" to a priest or religious. It is encouraging for them to feel that the generosity of their lives is appreciated. This appreciation sheds a positive light on priestly and religious vocations. Your show of gratitude may lead others to do the same. 3. Extend an invitation: Many people claim that they were never invited to explore a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Extend this invitation to a young person who you think might have a religious or priestly vocation. Your invitation could make a difference in someone's life. 4. Serve in parish ministry: In the Gospels Jesus directs each of us to a life of service. Your service in the activities of your parish will help create the life-giving environment necessary for the nurturing of religious and priestly vocations. Let us fulfil this Gospel message by sharing our gifts. 5. Exhibit a love of your faith: By showing a love of your faith, you can provide the parish community with a powerful personal witness as to the importance of living out one's vocation as the Lord intended. You can be a model for others to discover the vocation to which they are being called. 6. Pray: Of all the ways we can work toward the increase of vocations to priesthood and religious life, prayer is undoubtedly the most essential. Make a commitment to pray for this intention everyday. Consider praying for a particular priest/religious in your parish. 7. Attend Mass: Celebration of the Eucharist is a fundamental aspect of our faith. Gathering around the Lord's Table will serve to strengthen the bond you have to your faith and the bond of the parish family. It is a strong parish family that produces priestly and religious vocations. 8. Participate in Vocation Awareness Week: Take part in the events of Vocation Awareness Week by praying with others throughout the diocese for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Check the bulletin for details regarding vocation activities. Your presence and support will enhance the effectiveness of these events. 9. Support parish functions: Your participation in parish functions is important. Not only of benefit in terms of your own spiritual growth, but also a fine example for your friends and neighbours. Having the parish as a focal point in your life can be an impetus for others to do the same. Such an atmosphere gives rise to church vocations. 10. Encourage cooperation among the different ministries in your parish: It is only by the cooperation of the entire community, with members responding to the vocation they received through baptism, that we will be able to create the proper environment to foster the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life - with the Holy Spirit leading the way! For More Information Please Contact; Fr. Paddy Rushe 10 Fair Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland T +353 (0) 41 98 45488; F +353 (0) 41 98 41351; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. 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