MAYNOOTH, Ireland, APRIL 19, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Ireland are inviting Catholics to participate in Sunday’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The relics of St. John Vianney are scheduled to arrive that day.
The relics of St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests and the model proposed by Benedict XVI when he declared this special year to celebrate the priesthood, will be in Ireland until April 29.
The arrival on Good Shepherd Sunday is significant since the country will be praying for priests and other vocations on that day.
A communiqué from the bishops’ conference underlined the theme of this year’s Vocation Sunday, “Witness Awakens Vocations,” chosen by Benedict XVI to “complement” this Year for Priests.
It quoted the Pope’s message for Sunday’s event: “May this World Day once again offer many young people a precious opportunity to reflect on their own vocation and to be faithful to it in simplicity, trust and complete openness.
“May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, watch over each tiny seed of a vocation in the hearts of those whom the Lord calls to follow him more closely, may she help it to grow into a mature tree, bearing much good fruit for the Church and for all humanity.”
On its Web site, the conference is offering other resources for Sunday, as well as material for people discerning or promoting vocations.
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On the Net:
Irish bishops’ conference: http://www.catholicbishops.ie/
On ZENIT’s Web page:
Papal message for Vocations Sunday: http://zenit.org/article-28377?l=english
