NEWSLETTER INSERTS - ON VOCATIONS SUNDAY, 11th MAY 2025

‘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’.

Pope Francis, Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2025

‘Every vocation is inspired by hope, marked by confident trust in God’s providence.  For Christians, hope is more than mere human optimism: it is a certainty based on our faith in God, who is at work in each of our lives. Vocations mature through the daily effort to be faithful to the Gospel, and through prayer, discernment and service’.

Pope Francis, Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2025

‘The Church needs pastors, religious, missionaries and spouses capable of saying “yes” to the Lord with trust and hope. 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’.

Pope Francis, Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2025

‘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’.

Bishop Ger Nash, Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2025

“God has created my heart only for himself. He asks me to give it to him that he may make it happy”.

St John Vianney

“Only in friendship with Christ is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in his friendship do we experience beauty and liberation”.

Pope Benedict XVI, Opening Homily as pope, April 2005

“God has created me to do him some definitive service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission.”

St John Henry Newman