Did you realize that each and every parish leader is a valuable Vocation Director? This role is not just for priests and Sisters.

The promotion of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life requires that everyone involved in parish leadership understand and accept your very important role --- whether you be on the parish/school staff, or serving on the Parish Council or Parish Finance Council or other parish organizations, or involved with the Confirmation program or youth ministry.

Praying for, and keeping alert to those men and women whom you meet in the course of your parish ministry and service who exhibit those qualities and characteristics for a good Priest or Religious is a job for us all. Yes, each one of you is in every sense a Parish Vocation Director! And our Archdiocese needs you very much --- and now!!

It is clear that Jesus Christ continues to call men and women to service in the Church. However, that call must be heard, understood and encouraged. The grace of a Church vocation is spoken not only by God's voice, but also through each one of us who recognizes those special gifts in those who walk with us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

I am asking each parish in our Archdiocese to take an active role in promoting vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life through these steps:
---Include a petition for vocations regularly in the General Intercessions
---Schedule special Parish Holy Hours with the focus on increased vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life
---Institute a Parish Vocations' Committee with several parishioners and a key staff member assisting
---Place posters from our Vocations' Office in the vestibule of the Church
---Encourage Confirmation Groups, Youth Groups, and Young Adult Groups to become more aware of Church ministry vocations; bring in seminarians to tell their own vocation story; give out literature and information
---Consider establishing a Nights of Discipleship for Young Adults group in your parish, or in conjunction with another parish
---Invite our Vocation Office staff to come out to your parish and help establish a vocation outreach at the parish level
---Visit the Vocation Office website: www.la-archdiocese.org/ministry/vocations.

God continues to call men and women to full-time service of the Church, but that call needs to be heard by these possible candidates. Everyone in our Archdiocese can assist in this overall effort, and I urge you to join me in a new outreach effort for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.

May Jesus our Good Shepherd continue to lead us forward, and may He call others to help shepherd the People of God on their faith journeys!