Prayer for Vocations by Pope John Paul II

Jesus, our Good Shephard, bless all our parishes with numerous priests, deacons, men and women in religious life, consecrated laity and missionaries, according to the needs of the entire world, which you love and wish to save.

Assist our pastors and all who live a consecrated life. Guide the steps of those who have responded generously to your call and are preparing to receive Holy Orders or to profess vows.

Look with love on young people and call them to follow you. Help them to understand that in you alone can they attain complete fulfillment.

To this end we call on the powerful intercession of Mary, mother and model of all vocations. We beseech you to sustain our faith that the Father will grant what you command to ask. Amen.



Intercession of St. Jude

God of mercy, through the intercession of St. Jude, we pray to you to bless our parishes with numerous vocations to the religious life. We ask you to bless us with saintly men and women who seek to follow Jesus Christ more perfectly in poverty, chastity and obedience. We ask you to bless and protect all religious brothers and sisters vowed to your service and to increase their holiness and apostolic zeal, that through their prayers and good works the Kingdom of Christ might continue to grow in our homes, in our parish and in our world.

Almighty Father, through the intercession of St. Jude, we pray you to raise up from within our parishes many holy priests and deacons to proclaim your holy gospel and to celebrate your Sacred Mysteries. We ask you to bless and protect our Holy Father and all bishops, priests, and deacons, whom you have chosen as shepherds of your flock and anointed with your Holy Spirit. We ask you to keep them strong in faith, full of hope and overflowing with charity, that through their life and ministry the Church born from Christ's wounded side might continue to grow in grace and holiness.



God, our Father,
in Baptism You called us by name,
making us members of Your People, the Church.
We praise and thank You for Your gifts.

Father,
we ask You that Your Spirit strengthen us
to live in love and service to others
after the example of Your Son Jesus.

Father, look upon Your Church with love
and bless Your people with the servants She needs.
Choose from our parishes, from our homes,
from our schools and colleges,
an abundant harvest of dedicated disciples
for service in Your Church:
sisters, brothers, deacons, priests, missionaries.

We pray that those whom You call
may never lose awareness of the
dignity and need of their vocation.
Continue to bless and strengthen those
who have already responded to Your call.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord,
Amen.



O Virgin Mary,
Mother of the Church,
help all those called by
your Son, Jesus,
to say a joyful YES,
as you did in the Annunciation.
Amen.



Family Vocation Prayer

Loving God, each member of our family is a special gift from You.

You have given each of us gifts and talents so we may enjoy life but also so we can share with others. Generous women and men, boys and girls, are needed for service and leadership in our Church.

Help us know how to encourage and support each other so we can respond generously to this need by becoming the kind of people You want us to be. We know that You will be with us; help us to trust in You and in each other. Amen.