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Then Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest” (Mt. 9:38)
By Rev. Carl Arcosa
Special to The Catholic Voice
National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country Nov. 1-7. Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.
As your new director of vocations and seminarians, I would like to ask for your prayers for my new mission and task. For the past 10 years, our diocese has been averaging two to three ordinations per year. This year we are blessed to have two men, Father Mac Lingo and Father Peter Lawongkerd. Thank you for your generous support both financially and prayers for our seminarians in formation.
Cultivating vocations starts in our families, schools and parishes. They are seedbeds of religious and priestly vocations and as a People of God, we are called also to be promoters of vocations in our communities.
Thus, I ask you this month of November to pray for an increase of vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Please kindly ask your fellow parishioners to offer sacrifices, their rosaries, Holy Hours and Holy Mass for this intention.
As of now, we have 12 men in formation: two deacons, six in theology and four in college. It is my hope that you assist me in promoting vocations in your communities and schools by inviting me to speak in your parish and bring our seminarians with me when normalcy returns after COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to inform you that next year, hopefully when a vaccine would be available, that we all celebrate vocations and promote vocations during the month of November, the Feast Day of St. John Vianney, Good Shepherd Sunday and the January Seminary Appeal. With my vocation team, we are planning to do diocesan events in the Cathedral of Christ the Light and parishes.
If you know someone you think has a sign of a vocation or desire to become a priest, please reach out to me and I will be glad to come and sit down with you and talk to you about how we may be able to help in his discernment.
Please commit to make these prayers below as your Intentions for Daily Prayer and let us work together to create a culture of vocations in our homes and parishes:
For young people in our community, that they may respond generously with open hearts and willing spirits if the Lord calls them to the priesthood, diaconate or consecrated life.
For men and women to be open to God’s call to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as priests, deacons or consecrated persons.
I ask for your help and support to promote the National Vocation Awareness Week from Nov. 1-7 and our month-long diocesan prayer for vocations.
In our parishes and offices, I humbly request you to pray every day in the month of November for increase of vocations in our diocese. We can do many things to pray:
Pray the Rosary
Pray the Memorare or a Hail Mary
Pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy
Make a Holy Hour
Offer Masses and Attend Masses
Offer Sufferings and Sacrifices
Do good works of mercy
Write our clergy and seminarians a letter of prayer and support
Pray the vocation prayer
View vocation resources HERE
See Vocaton Videos:
https://youtu.be/hYuqz18ZpCI
https://youtu.be/8VAwrSkr0u8
https://youtu.be/pEeUU3wKNlU
https://youtu.be/QQ8sAXfrVAY
https://youtu.be/7jy_rhVeUBc
https://youtu.be/NWRUUdZzTHk
https://youtu.be/VLOnA6NwJFc
https://youtu.be/1vM-_qApRCg
Father Carl Arcosa is director of vocations for the Diocese of Oakland. He also serves as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Livermore. Contact him at carcosa@oakdiocese.org.
