To nurture and raise awareness of religious vocations in their own communities, a number of parishes around the Los Angeles Archdiocese are adopting unique vocation-minded practices as parishioners offer support and learn how such callings can make lasting spiritual connections.

Indeed, the topic of vocations is woven into liturgies, classrooms and parish life as a way to educate and perhaps inspire new generations of priests, brothers and sisters.

Leaders at Immaculate Conception Church in Monrovia have been rather dynamic in their approach.

The church itself is the main backdrop for a continuing vocation conversation --- weekly announcements can be found in the Vocation Corner, a large bulletin board found in the church vestibule. Special times at the Friday weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament involve praying a rosary for vocations. Laminated prayer cards for vocations are also always available in the church.

In addition, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick have been encouraged to invite the bed-ridden and homebound to actively pray for vocations. "So often, these parishioners feel lost and alone," says Ron Clark, parish vocation director. "They are still vital in our eyes."

Still, the best way to effectively raise vocation awareness is to see, as Clark says, "how it's manifested in our community."

For instance, in residence at the parish, Sister Disciple of the Divine Master Ahn Terese recently renewed her vows at a Sunday Mass; her vocation story was printed and distributed. Father Paul Griesgarber, ordained in 2006, also recently celebrated Eucharist during the weekly Sunday evening youth Mass.

Elsewhere, during Vocation Awareness Week school children have written personal thank-you letters to their parish priests --- including the pastor, Father Charles Ramirez --- and have also designed prayer cards for vocations in their art classes.

Perhaps one of the more engaging continuing projects for the students is the Adopt-A-Seminarian Program where each grade will be assigned a St. John's seminarian for prayer and correspondence. Pictures of the men in discernment at the Camarillo seminary will be displayed in each classroom in a vocation area.

"Seminarians will be assigned to each class by age so each class can 'follow' that journey with that person," explains Clark. "This way, for instance, our eighth graders are praying for seminarian who will be ordained in June."

In addition to the classrooms, vocation awareness is coming home with many parishioners as part of a weekly Chalice and Stole Prayer program. At the end of a Sunday Mass, one family is given a chalice and stole (on loan from St. John's) to take home as a reminder to pray for vocations in general as well as a specific seminarian.

Prayer cards and prayer groups
Other vocation-raising ideas are in the works at St. Louis of France Church in La Puente where parishioner Marco Durazo is a soon-to-be ordained priest. "We have created prayer cards with his picture on them," says Christian Lujan, confirmation youth minister coordinator. "We want to show our support in prayer with Marco's journey."

For his part, Durazo has spoken about his vocation story at recent Masses and in June will celebrate his first Eucharist at the church.

"Raising vocation awareness is not about just targeting one specific group," says Lujan. "It's applicable to all age groups."

To be sure, a new vocation discernment group based at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica is offering a new approach to men of all ages who are curious about their potential calling.

Following the steps outlined in the archdiocesan Inspired Vocation Experience (www.inspiredvocationexperience.com), the Men's Vocation Group supports one another as they work on specific tasks, phases and processes that can point them to a possible vocation.

Now in its fifth month, this group --- which is sponsored by the L.A. Archdiocese Office of Vocations and is open to all men in the area --- has had a tremendous impact, according to Phil Tirone, one of the organizers. "We have had four inquiries since our inception," he says. "That's almost unheard of."

Men who attend the once-a-month meetings share their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Overall, the goal of the group --- where participant ages run from early 20s to late 50s --- is to demystify the discernment process and offer concrete steps for men considering the priesthood.

Tirone says that often time the hardest thing for men who may be confused or feeling lost to hear is, "Why don't you just pray on it?"

"For many, praying isn't specific enough," he says. "We offer men solid ways and assignments to see how they are called."

While upcoming meetings are announced at Sunday Masses, Tirone says that most men come usually because someone approached them.

"There are probably no more powerful words than 'Have you ever thought of being a priest?'" he says. "These are words that we all can use."

The Men's Vocation Group meets the second Wednesday of each month at St. Monica Church, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica. For more information, call (213) 453-1501.