By Mary McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/8/04)

Sunday, Jan. 11 begins the observance of National Vocations Awareness Week. All members of the diocese are invited to join the diocese in prayer and "beg the Harvest Master to send more laborers to work in His vineyard."

Twenty-one parishes will welcome visitors to speak at Sunday Masses this weekend. Seminarians currently in formation will visit parishes around the diocese to deliver talks about vocations and their call to the priesthood.

National Vocations Awareness Week will be celebrated in the Catholic schools and religious education groups. Preparation materials were sent to all diocesan schools, director of religious education and home school organizations. Included in the materials were grade appropriate lesson plans, children’s prayer cards, suggested opening day vocation prayers, forms for the diocesan "Spiritual Olympics," information for the vocation prayer and drawing contest, and ideas for vocation-related plays

Throughout the year, some schools have been showing their support for those in religious formation from the diocese. In the past, school students have adopted endangered animals, stretches of roads or highways, and needy families at Christmas time.

This year, spearheaded by the Office of Vocations, local Catholic school students, students in religious education and home study groups are adopting seminarians and sisters in religious formation.

The students have sent their adopted religious Christmas cards, birthday cards and letters of encouragement. In return, the seminarians and sisters are invited to visit the school whenever they get the chance. This partnership helps the students who have questions about religious formation and creates a bond between them and the religious of the diocese, and it helps the religious know there are people who are praying for them and offering encouragement for them back home.

For more information on the Office of Vocations or on discerning a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life visit the Office of Vocations Web site at www.arlingtondiocese.org/vocations or call 703/841-2514.

Holy Olympics

Diocesan students in grades K-8 are invited to become Spiritual Champions by participating in the 2004 Vocation Spiritual Olympics. By performing acts of service, sacrifice and prayer for God to send more priests, deacons and religious men and women to serve the Church, students will compete in various "sports" to earn points and strive for gold medals.

To earn points students will perform specific sports.

— One point in bobsled — spend 10 extra minutes a day in prayer.

— One point in hockey — spend 15 minutes helping someone in need.

— One point in figure skating — say a mystery of the rosary.

— One point in speed skating — spend 10 minutes reading about a saint.

— One point in ski jumping — spend 10 minutes reading the Bible.

— One point in cross country skiing — make the Stations of the Cross.

— One point in slalom skiing — spend 15 minutes visiting Jesus in the blessed sacrament.

— One point in giant slalom skiing — go to Mass.

Students are encouraged to participate in the sports at home, at school, in church or during their ride or walk to school.

At the end of Vocations Awareness Week, each student will complete a point tracking sheet and each school will calculate their total number of points. Gold, silver and bronze awards will be given in the categories of Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and home schooling groups. The winning school, parish or home schooling group will be recognized as "Spiritual Champions." Winners will be announced in the HERALD and awards will be presented in February.

Prayer Card Contest

Students in grades K-8 are invited to put their God-given talents to work in service of the Church. On a standard-size piece of paper, students are invited to either compose a simple prayer, in 50 words or less, or draw a picture. A prayer and drawing will be chosen to be printed on a prayer card for children of the diocese to use to remind them to pray for God to send more priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. The winning prayer and drawing will be published in the HERALD and then printed and sent to all schools, parish religious education programs and home schooling groups.

For more information about any of these activities, call the Office of Vocations at 703/841-2514.