The 2021 World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated this Sunday, 25 April.  Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations, has welcomed Pope Francis’ message on the theme ‘Saint Joseph: The Dream of Vocation’.  He said, “It was a joy to read Pope Francis’ Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  It is filled with wisdom and expresses a joyful message to anyone discerning a vocation to marriage, the priesthood or the religious life.

“The Holy Father urges us to be generous and to consider three key words: dream, service and fidelity.  In a world where self-interest stifles a true gift of self, Pope Francis encourages us all to courageously seek God’s intended plan for us.  This plan is always ongoing since a ‘vocation, like life itself, matures only through daily fidelity’.  May the words of Pope Francis bear fruit for our times.”

Father Willie Purcell, National Coordinator for Diocesan Vocations, will celebrate Mass for Vocations Sunday at 11.00am, which will be broadcast from the RTÉ studios in Donnybrook, Dublin, on RTÉ One Television, and on Radio 1 Long Wave.

Preparations for the Mass are being coordinated by Sister Moira Bergin of the National Centre for Liturgy and by the National Vocations Office.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions there will not be a congregation in the studio so people are being encouraged to join in the broadcast of Mass to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life.

Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore and chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations takes place annually on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, this year Sunday 25 April.

ENDS