Report of the Activities organised during the year 2008-09

1. During the year six QUEST programmes were conducted (1 weekend and 5 full  days). On an average about 20 young men attended regularly. Two out of the six QUEST programmes were for both young men and women.
2. On 20^th August 2009, we orgasnized an Interactive Session for all the Vocation Promoters of the Archdiocese. Bishop Bosco Penha was the main speaker. Around 115 attended the same.
3. On the occasion of Vianney Sunday, a special liturgy and a holy half-hour was prepared and sent to all the parishes to be used on the appointed day.
4. A special 2009 calendar was prepared with the words ‘I Need You’ and a Vocation prayer printed on it. Calendars were sent to every parish and religious institution of the Archdiocese.
5. Vocation Sunday -25^th January, 2009:

Coordinated with the Examiner (The Catholic Newsweekly) and arranged for four articles which were duly published.

Gave material to institutions who organized Vocation Exhibitions.

Organized a QUEST program.

Special liturgy, homily tips A colourful poster was prepared, with the words ‘I need you to lead my people’ were prepared and sent to all the parishes.

6. The team of priests and lay persons  promoting diocesan vocations under the guidance of Bp. Bosco Penha met four times during the year. It was my responsibility to prepare and dispatch the minutes to all the members and remind of the meeting.
7. Twenty-two young men attended the special QUEST program on Ordination Day at St. Pius College, Goregaon. After a full-day session they attended the Ordination service. There was a special session by Fr John Rodrigues (Seminary Professor) on the Priesthood.
8. Two thousand book marks on the ‘Diocesan Priesthood’, five thousand book marks of the ‘Discernment Prayer’ and ten thousand bookmarks of the ‘Vocation Prayer’ were given to individuals and parishes
9. Diocesan Vocation Committee: For the first time we are involving lay persons. We have one person from nearly every parish who was recommended by the parish priest and with his/her help we hope to have a Vocation Cell in every parish comprising of lay persons, religious and priests. This person will also encourage young men and women to attend our programs and encourage people to pray for vocations.
10. Film on vocations – Copies of the film ‘Ambassadors for Christ’ and a session to be conducted after the movie was prepared and sent to all the parishes.
11. During Mount Mary’s feast we put up six huge colourful banners which were placed near the entrance of the Bandra Fair.
12. Testimonies. We are in the process of publishing a colourful book containing testimonies of priests who have influenced the lives of the lay faithful. We are in the final stage of editing the same.
13. We formed an Executive Team of Vocation Promoters(ETVP) which includes ten religious men and women and myself. We  organized a two-day Western Region - Vocation Promotion Seminar which helped in enlightening and motivating us.
14. We published a colourful book entitled Catholic Church Serving Mumbai which showcases fifty charitable institutions and a list of all institutions in the Archdiocese so as to motivate our youngsters to be priests and religious and also enlighten the people of other faiths about the work done by the Church.
15. Prepared a Vocation kit entitled ‘The Call’ containing over twenty sessions to aid Vocation Promotion Programmes.
16. Assisted several religious institutions with their  vocation projects.
17. Using modern mass media i.e. SMS and email to keep in touch with all those who attend the Quest programs and also others who show interest but cannot make it for the Quest programs.
18. Any given opportunity is used to promote vocations. During the Kairos Festival (National Youth Charismatic Convention) where more than six thousand youth attended we had a Vocation Promotion Stall focusing on the Diocesan Priesthood for all the three days where we met many young men. I also gave a talk after the movie ‘Ambassadors for Christ.’
19. Working in the Diocesan Youth Centre helps me to reach out to potential candidates at various youth events. I do this discreetly.

I am grateful to all the past Vocation Promoters and to Rector and Staff of the Seminary (St Pius X College) for  their whole-hearted support in my Ministry.(The Seminary has also appointed two seminarians to assist in Vocation Work.) My grateful thanks to his Lordship, Bishop Bosco Penha who is in-charge of this Ministry and takes keen interest in the day to day running of the Diocesan Vocation Service Centre.

Most profoundly my thanks to his Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias for trusting me with this work and for encouraging and supporting me.

Lastly I praise and thank God for using me as his instrument for this work.