2019 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, May 12

The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly celebrate vocations to ordained ministry and religious life in all its forms.  Many parishes and religious institutes commemorate this day with prayer for vocations and vocation promotion events. Considering that 73 percent of women and men professing final vows participated in one or more parish activities and 88 perecent served in one or more parish ministries before entering religious life, our presence and participation in activities that mark this special day is essential. Consider asking parishes for opportunities to speak, pray, provide bulletin inserts, prayer cards, and conversation before and after Masses, in religious education programs, RCIA and confirmation formation classes on this day. 

Dear friends, it is not always easy to discern our vocation and to steer our life in the right direction.  For this reason, there needs to be a renewed commitment on the part of the whole Church – priests, religious, pastoral workers and educators – to provide young people in particular with opportunities for listening and discernment.  There is a need for a youth ministry and a vocational promotion that can open the way to discovering God’s plan, above all through prayer, meditation on God’s word, eucharistic adoration and spiritual accompaniment. 

--Pope Francis, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 2019.

Prayer for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Holy Spirit,  stir within us the passion to promote vocations to the consecrated life, societies of apostolic life, diocesan priesthood, and permanent diaconate.

Inspire us daily to respond to Your call with boundless compassion, abundant generosity, and radical availability.

Help us to remember our own baptismal call to rouse us to invite the next generation to hear and respond to Your call.

Inspire parents, families, and lay ecclesial ministers to begin a conversation with young Catholics to consider a how they will live lives of holiness and sacred service.

Nudge inquirers and motivate discerners to learn more about monastic life, apostolic life, missionaries, cloistered contemplative life, and evangelical Franciscan life.

Ignite our Church with the confident humility that there is an urgent need for religious sisters, brothers, deacons, and priests to live in solidarity with those who are poor, neglected, and marginalized.

Disrupt our comfortable lives and complacent attitudes with new ideas to respond courageously and creativity with a daily 'YES!'  Amen.

Additional vocation prayers

 Resources offered by the USCCB

Rosary for Vocations with the Luminous Mysteries 

World Day of Prayer for Vocations Doodle

NRVC member, Sister Chela Gonzalez, O.P. was inspired to create a doodle for World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This coloring page can be used with all ages who want to pray through art. Sr. Chela used the rosary as the core focus of her design, using any Mystery of the Rosary. The lower left swirl is for the Apostles Creed while the lower right swirl is for the Hail, Holy Queen. Each of the diamonds (two at the top and three at the bottom) are for the Lord’s Prayer, while each row of circles represents five Hail Mary prayers. The Glory Be prayer is prayed after praying ten Hail Mary prayers, and the artist can color in the design around the circles. This design is meant to intentionally bring one into prayer while coloring. The person can prayerfully name those who are discerning vocations, those who have already committed to single, ordained or vowed life, as well as asking for direction to answer God’s continuous call to holiness.

Papal Messages for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

2019 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message

2018 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message

2017 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2016 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal messsage.

2015 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2014 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2013 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2012 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2011 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2010 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2009 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2008 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2007 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.

2006 World Day of Prayer for Vocations Papal message.