Bishop Burbidge

Bishop Burbidge’s statement on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

CROP-bishop-burbidge-motto_bluebackground(1).jpg

The Catholic Church celebrates the 56th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, May 12. It is a special invitation to pray for all the priests and men and women religious who offer their lives in service to the Lord and His Church.

 

Our Holy Father Pope Francis promulgated a message for this day, in which he says that, “every vocation is a summons not to stand on the shore, nets in hand, but to follow Jesus on the path he has marked out for us, for our own happiness and for the good of those around us.”

 

Responding to the Lord’s call requires great courage and faith. It is not easy to chart a path where the destination is unknown. By taking our Lord’s hand and trusting in his divine providence and will for our lives, we find our greatest joy and consolation. In these days of suffering and crisis within the Church, we need men and women to step forward in total devotion to God as priests or consecrated religious more than ever. Pray fervently for those to whom God is giving the call, that they would embrace this gift and live it to the fullest.

 

May we live this World Day of Prayer for Vocations by trusting in our God who is faithful to His promises. Let us respond faithfully to the vocation to which He calls each of us, and let us pray for others, especially our young people, to do the same. May all in the Diocese of Arlington be united with the entire Body of Christ in our prayer for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. 

 

Related Articles