Vocations Sunday

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Risen Lord calls each of us by our Baptism to share in his glorious new life and to be his disciples and witnesses. By our Baptism we share in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and are called to give our lives in prayer and faithful service to the Lord. On this Vocations Sunday we are invited to pray about the call of the Lord in our lives and ask the question, are we listening and responding to this call? We know this call takes place in many different ways. Marriage & family life, consecrated and religious life, priesthood and diaconate and various forms of single and apostolic life. The Good Shepherd is calling each of us. 

This is also the day when we pray for vocations to the priesthood. In this prayer we ask God to continue to call forth those who will shepherd His people and nourish them by Word and Sacrament making the love of Christ visible in a way that is essential for the life of the Church. In recent times we have seen the witness of Fr Alex as a newly ordained priest here in our parish and that of the seminarians who have come to be based here David Bench, Toby Duckworth and Steven Fleming. They all remind us of this essential call to ministry in the life of our Church. From our own community and beyond God is calling at least some of us to this way of life. It's essential that we help our young people discern such a call and pray that those whom God calls will have the courage to listen and respond. 
Please see the materials that have been produced by the Diocesan Vocations Office for this day of prayer. https://www.vocations.org.uk/vocations-sunday