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Intro: We have gathered here to spend some time with our Lord. To pray and thank Him for a very special gift – the gift of a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Let us during this hour, pray and ask the Lord to call more young people to work in His vineyard, at the same time thanking Him for the priests and religious He has given us and ask Him to be with them always as He has done through all these years.

 

Hymn: Spirit of the living God… (or any appropriate hymn) ……………….Silence

 

Prayer: O Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You are the eternal high priest. We thank you for the gift of a vocation, in which you call so many young people to be shepherds to us your flock. Keep them under the mantle of your constant care and protection. We also lift the young men and women of our families and neighbourhoods and all those thinking of answering your call, that they may realize the specialty of your calling. ………..Silence

 

Reading: – the call of the prophet Jeremiah.    [Jer. 1:4-10]  …………Silence

 

Reflection: When the Lord called Jeremiah to serve him, as we heard in the passage he was a young hesitant boy. But this young hesitant boy had the longest career as a prophet in recorded history. He was called to preach to his own people at a time when Jerusalem was in trouble which ended in the destruction of the temple and the city. (Pause)

The world today is having problems of its own and even today the situation is not much different from that of Jeremiah’s time. Even today God calls young people to be his messengers to the world and even today young men and women are hesitant to answer His call. Let us now in silence pray for them that they may be able to discern God’s will for themselves……. Silence

 

Comm: Loving Father, your Son Jesus invited the disciples to follow him as He went about teaching, proclaiming the Good News and curing the sick. We offer these prayers that many more persons may heed His call today and serve in his vineyard .                                                                                                                                       

Let Our response be: Father, hear this prayer we make

1.      That the Holy Father, Bishops and priests may inspire many more young people to come forward in generosity and love …Let us pray to the Lord

2.      That our Christian youth may discover Christ and his message of love and true happiness… Let us pray to the Lord

3.      That people may not be trapped by the glamour and riches of a materialistic world but find time for God and for others, especially those in special need… Let us pray to the Lord

4.      That every single family in our parish may develop into nurseries where vocations to the priesthood and the religious life are fostered… Let us pray to the Lord

5.      That those preparing for the priesthood or the religious life, (especially from our parish) may discover joy in their vocation as they strive to serve you… Let us pray to the Lord :

      The Lord’s prayer together……Silence

 

Hymn: Here I am... (or any appropriate hymn)

Every Christian is called to be a leader. Some are more gifted at leadership than others, for sure, but we worship a God who calls every one of us to influence the people around us—to lead them to a fuller understanding of who God is, of what He’s done for us, and how He wants us to live our lives. Let us listen to Jesus’ teaching on true leadership.

 

A reading from the Gospel according to Jn 13:4-17 (silence for a minute)

Reflection: Jesus’ understanding of  leader was to be a servant  reaching out to all especially to the victims of an unjust society and living out and preaching the kingdom values such as justice, peace and love. It was so easy when Jesus was alive, he challenged all the unjust structures of his time by reaching out to the sinners, tax collectors, lepers, Samaritans. To the woman going to be stoned he was just, to Zachaeus Jesus  opens his heart to others and justice becomes the key to his life. Now that Jesus is physically absent it is the responsibility of the Church to work for the Kingdom of God in other words for a just society……………….Silence

 

Leader: Let us with deep faith turn to Jesus and pray.

R/      Lord, make us like you.

 

When we seek to dominate rather than serve.        R/        

When we want to get rather than give.    R/                                

When we ignore situations of  injustice.                  R/

When we seek our own comfort rather than that of others.         R/

When we are calculating and conditional  in our love.     R/

When we are reluctant to stretch ourselves in sacrifice.  R/

                                                                                        

Hymn: Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace ……..Silence:

 

Leader: Let us thank the Lord for all the blessings he has showered on us.

Resp: Thanks be to God

  1. For the Holy Catholic Church and its leaders for leading us to you. Res
  2. For the priests and religious serving in our parish. For all that they are to us and for all that they do for us. Res
  3. For the priests and religious who are children of our parish. For the joy that they are bringing to their own fields of ministry. Res
  4. For all those preparing for the priesthood and religious life. For the decision they have taken to serve you. Res
  5. For those in whom there is a growing desire to be a priest or religious. For the very thought of serving you is beautiful. Res

Vocation Prayer

Heavenly Father, bless our Archdiocese with the grace of many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, grant to those You have called the willingness and generosity of spirit to give of themselves in devoting their lives and their talents to the service of our Lord and to His Church. Increase the faith of all within our Archdiocese, and particularly the faith of those You have called and will continue to call. We ask this through Christ, Your Son. Amen.

 

Let us invite Mary, Our Blessed Virgin Mother to pray for us.

Hail Mary…..

 

Hymn: What thanks O Lord or any thanksgiving hymn

Fr Anthony J Fernandes - Diocesan Vocation Promoter, Fr Walter D'souza - Asst. Diocesan Vocation Promoter, Deacon Leonard La'Rive - DVSC