AMERICA/CHILE - Vocations Week 2007 to ask the Lord to increase the numbers of consecrated persons and the energy and perseverance of those who have already responded to the call

Thursday, 26 April 2007

Santiago ( Fides Service) - In view of the "World Day of Prayer for Vocations" next Sunday 29 April, 4th Sunday of Easter, on Monday 23 April the Church in Chile began its annual Vocation Week. To mark the occasion Bishop René Rebolledo Salino of Osorno diocese, president of the Bishops' Commission for Vocation Pastoral issued a message "Praying for Vocations” in which he affirms “we wish not only to increase the number of consecrated persons, but also to ask God to give strength and perseverance to those already at work in the Lord's vineyard ". The bishop recalls that every vocation is a gift of God "and brings implicitly a great challenge: commitment to walk the rest of life a path which today is perhaps more difficult than in the past". Because the path is difficult the strength to walk it comes only from Christ who made the call and to Him we must pray "for those who have already made a decision and that many more may take up the cross of their human weakness and choose to follow Christ.”
Each day of Vocation Week has a special aspect. 23 April vocation Rosary to pray for vocations of special consecration; 24 April vocation dialogue an opportunity for young people to discuss vocations with consecrated persons; 25 April Vespers with consecrated men and women to thank God for the vocation and pray for more vocations; 26 April Eucharistic adoration for vocations; 27 April priests and religious communities invite young people to their Houses to experience the consecrated life; 28 April, a series of conferences to help young people reflect on the meaning of life, to grow in awareness of one's own vocation and to realise the need for ongoing discernment in order to reply to God's call. On Sunday 29 April there will be special Masses and prayers for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations to pray to the Master to send more workers for the harvest. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/4/2007; righe 31, parole 416)


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