MESSAGE FROM BISHOP GER NASH FOR VOCATIONS SUNDAY - 11TH MAY 2025

Dear friends,

Writing from hospital a little over a month before he died, Pope Francis wrote his final message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations which takes place this Sunday 11th May. In his message for this Jubilee Year, he extended to all the baptised ‘a joyful and encouraging invitation to become pilgrims of hope by generously offering your lives as a gift’. He continued: ‘A vocation is a precious gift that God sows in our heart, a call to leave ourselves behind and embark on a journey of love and service. Every vocation in the Church, whether lay, ordained or consecrated, is a sign of the hope that God has for this world and for each of his children’.

On many other previous occasions, the late Francis spoke of the need to create a ‘culture of vocations’ whereby this precious gift that God sows in the hearts of those He calls, would grow in the fertile soil of families, parishes, schools and communities. Pope Francis suggested that creating this culture of vocations is key to vocations coming to fruition.

Here in the diocese of Ferns, we rejoice that there are signs of that same hope. Following a period of discernment, 29 people from our diocese have almost completed their first year of studies to prepare to become catechists and/or pastoral care workers. On 29th June, deacon Eamonn Salmon from the parish of Ballygarrett will be ordained priest for our diocese and on 19th October (Mission Sunday) Mr Fintan Fanning will be ordained to the permanent diaconate in the parish of Gorey. These are some examples of people sensing God’s call and who have given their ‘Yes’ to a life of love and service. There are many more.

With that in mind, I encourage everyone to help create a culture of vocations in our diocese - in the family, in schools and every parish. Never tire in reminding each other that God has a plan for everyone and calls us in hope and love. If you are unsure of your vocation and perhaps have grown tired discerning it, then help is available. In the diocese there are people to support, encourage, listen and accompany anyone who would like to reach out and discern the signs of God’s call in their lives. For in the words of Francis:

‘A vocation is never a treasure stored away in the heart; rather, it grows and is strengthened within a community that believes, loves and hopes. No one can respond to God’s call alone, for all of us need the prayers and support of our brothers and sisters’.

The Church is alive and fruitful when she generates new vocations.  Our world looks, often unknowingly, for witnesses of hope who proclaim with their lives that following Christ is a source of true joy.

To conclude with the words of Pope Francis, on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, ‘let us never tire of asking the Lord for new labourers for his harvest, certain that with great love he continues to call them’.

May the Lord continue to bless our diocese with many vocations for the present and the future.

Yours in Christ,

+Ger Nash,

Bishop of Ferns