Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - Catholics in Bangalore have formed a special group to pray for and sustain vocations to the priestly and religious life. Bangalore is in the south western Indian state of Karnataka.
Families, individuals, lay people and religious, promise to take part in a special monthly Mass to pray for vocations and to pray individually and as a community for the “Lord to send workers for his harvest”.
The Mass to inaugurate the initiative was presided by Archbishop Ignatius Pinto emeritus of Bangalore. In his homily the Archbishop urged the people to pray that the Lord “may open people’s eyes to see the needs of the Church day and the urgent need for more vocations” and to pray “that priests and religious may persevere in their service to God and humanity”.
The chaplain of the new group Redemptorist Fr. Eric Rodriguez, said the aim is to lead more and more Catholics to pray for vocations, to help the People of God realise their responsibility for the life and presence of the priests who serve the parish for the benefit of all. “All we hear is criticism with regard to the life of priests, but this is only destructive. Our group instead intends to sustain priests and religious who have consecrated their life to God; to obtain from the Lord for the gift of more vocations; to organise formation seminars and meetings on the theme of vocations and spiritual discernment to promote interest among young people”. (Agenzia Fides 6/11/2006 righe 25 parole 251)
