Vocation Awareness

What should I do to encourage vocations?

Many of the faithful ask what they can do to encourage and foster vocations. What role does the laity play in this? Vocations to the priesthood and religious life come from the People of God. They are our family members. It is important that families create an atmosphere conducive to foster vocations. Teaching children that they should consider priesthood and religious life is vital to increasing vocations. The Lord calls many but some do not respond or do not know how to. Here are a few ways the faithful may help:

1. Pray for Vocations. Prayer is fundamental for increasing vocations. Pray that young people be generous in responding to the call of God to serve the Church. Pray that they have encouraging and supportive families.


2. Teach your children. Teach your children to love and respect the priest. Teach them that it is worthwhile to consider the priesthood or religious life. Encourage them to pray for priests. Encourage your children to be active in their parish either through a youth group, as an altar server, or various other activities provided in your local parish. Always bring them to Sunday Mass and teach them to be faithful in prayer.


3. Simply Encourage. Encourage a young person to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Perhaps you could encourage your grandchild, your child, a brother or a sister, a nephew or a niece, or a child of a friend, to dedicate their lives as priests or sisters. Encourage your parish altar servers, your parish youth group members. It takes someone to plant a seed for one to discover that perhaps God is calling them to the priesthood or religious life. Perhaps you could be that inspiration.


4. Pray for and support those in formation. On this website you find addresses and pictures of the men studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Encourage them and offer them your prayers. Perhaps you could spiritually adopt a deacon or a seminarian and pray for him in your prayers, remember him on his birthday, remember to pray for him during his exams, and one day God willing attend his ordination. Say a prayer for them.


5. Never forget to pray for your priests and religious. They have dedicated their lives in service of the Church and they need your prayers. Support them and encourage them, for they are human and need to hear you appreciate their work, and that you pray for them unceasingly.


6. Make a contribution. You can make a contribution to help the Diocese form priests. Their education and formation can be costly. You can also help contribute to the work of promoting vocations in programs throughout the Diocese and the work of the Office of Vocations. Click here to learn more.


7. Become a Parish Liaison. In every parish we hope to have parish liaisons who work with the pastor and the Office of Vocations to promote vocations in the parish. If there is a parish liaison then offer to help them in their work. Click here to find a listing of liaisons.

For more information about what you can do to support the work of the Office of Vocations contact us through email, by telephone, or by visiting our office.