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can adults encourage church Missionary Vocations?
Some talk directly about vocations.
Others simply try to help youth to learn Christian values.
Both kinds of encouragement are helpful.
Vocation Prayer
Loving God,
You speak to us and nourish us
through the life of our Church community.
In the name of Jesus,
we ask You to send Your Spirit to us
so that men and women among us
may respond to Your call
to service and mission in the world.
We pray especially, in our day,
for those who hear Your invitation
to be a Missionary
as a Religious or Lay Volunteer.
As they open their hearts and minds
to Your call
may they be encouraged and strengthened
through our witness, our support,
and our enthusiasm in Your service.
Amen
Here are some ideas to use in your family. Choose one of the following suggestions as your Family Commitment to Mission, and as a sign of your Family support of Missionary Vocations. Don’t feel that you have to follow all these suggestions. Choose only those you can integrate easily in your family life.
To create a caring environment and Christian service in your home:
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Composing together your own “Family Vocation Prayer” and using it frequently.
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An hour of private prayer each month.
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Praying daily at home for Missionaries around the world and for the youth that are in formation to become missionaries.
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Reflecting and sharing together on how the talents and skills of your family members can be at the service of the poorest and of world mission.
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Talking about world issues at home and the work of the Church does worldwide.
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Writing to a missionary overseas to find out how you can be of help to him/her and to the community they serve.
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Doing some type of volunteer service among the poor in the neighborhood.
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Inviting a missionary priest, religious or lay, to share a family meal and asking them to share their experience.
Ideas that are more mission-focused:
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Encouraging some youth or young adult from your parish/community to consider missionary life.
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Keeping an eye open for television shows, movies, and videos that present world mission real life stories and issues. (Your Parish or Diocesan Communication Office may help you)
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Doing some research to discover missionary groups active in world mission. Who are they? What service do they carry out overseas? Would there be a way you and your family may be of help to them?
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Planning an informative and relaxed evening on world mission at the parish or with a group of parents or friends… maybe together with a prayer moment, a witness talk, slide presentation, or video.
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Consider becoming an associate or lay member of a missionary community
“In the Church and in society this is the hour of the family. The family is called to carry out a prominent role in the work of new evangelization. In fact, it is within families dedicated to prayer, to good works and sound Christian living, that genuine vocations are born. Vocations not only to building up new families, but also special vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.” Pope John Paul II
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)