Vocation Awareness Week is Nov. 6-12

Published: November 9, 2016

National Vocation Awareness Week is being celebrated Nov. 6-12. This annual observance of the Catholic Church in the United States is designed to focus on vocations to the priesthood, religious life and diaconate. It is a time to encourage young people to ask themselves: "To what vocation in life is God calling me?" It is also an opportunity to bring awareness to and pray for those already in discernment of one of these vocations. 

Parish and school communities across the nation are encouraged to include, during the first week in November, prayer and special activities that focus on vocation awareness. For suggestions on prayer and other activities, visit the websites for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops or USA Council of Serra International.

"Prayer for vocations is the responsibility of the entire Church. Often times we think that vocations will come from somewhere else, and yet God invites us to consider that he is raising up vocations to priesthood, consecrated life, and the permanent diaconate from within our own communities, even our own families" said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

"Our willingness to invite those within our own communities and families to consider that God may be calling them to priesthood or consecrated life will bear abundant fruit in the Church and bring great joy and happiness to those called. We want what is best for our children; even more so does God desire their happiness," he added. Learn more.

National Vocation Awareness Week is sponsored by the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. It began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for this observance. In 1997, the celebration was moved to coincide with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. In 2014, it was moved to the first full week of November.