» Parish Vocation Committees

Additional Resources

Parish Vocation Committees

In mid-2005, parishes prepared plans on how to promote vocations, leading many to form Parish Vocation Committees (PVCs). The Vocation Office will assist and encourage parish vocation promotion plans in any way we can. This site contains numerous downloadable documents describing activities and events that PVCs can put into action at your parish, as well as links to other resource sites and addresses for catalogs of vocation materials. The Vocation Office has a number of PVC resources including posters, prayer cards, and copies of the inspirational, locally produced, video “The Man Behind the Collar.”

We hope the PVCs might, in part, function like scouts for sports teams, by encouraging those young people in their parish who have skills that would be valuable as a priest or religious to prayerfully consider such a path. If each parish were to get just one priestly vocation from their congregation once every 8 years, our Archdiocese will be in great shape for the future. It may take talking with and encouraging 50 young men in a parish throughout those 8 years to find one who discerns the call. The Holy Spirit will do His part, we must pray diligently and do whatever we can to help; and once one young man enters the seminary, more often follow.

If you are a member of a Parish Vocation Committee, you clearly desire to see more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Please consider joining your local SERRA club, who work diligently to promote vocations (For Cincinnati SERRA, contact Lou Eichhold at loueich4@fuse.net; for Dayton SERRA, contact Bob Erhart at rjerhart@yahoo.com). There is also the St. John Vianney Vocation Society through which people pray at home for vocations. There are no dues or meetings with the Vianney Society. It is run by Catholics United for the Faith in Dayton (contact Mike Goetz at mikebgoetz@sbcglobal.net to find out how to get a copy of their prayer book). Finally, consider looking into your local Knights of Columbus chapter, as they have always been tremendous supporters of vocations in America. These groups can use your energy in their good work, please prayerfully consider joining one.

Archdiocese Resources

Vocation Committee Guidelines

Components of a Vocation Recruitment Plan

Supplies available to Parish Vocations Commitees

100 Proven PVC Projects to Try

Traveling Crucifix Program

Stations of The Cross

Holy Hour for Vocations Guide

Prayers

Vocations Websites

US Bishops Conference: www.foryourvocation.org

SERRA club: www.serraus.org