The Camden Diocesan Office of Vocations is excited to begin a new initiative: a Holy Hour for Vocations on the first Thursday of every month.
The First Thursday program will be from 7-8 p.m. in a different deanery each month in a designated church.
A deanery is a group of parishes by region.
Emphasizing that the holy hour is not only for “people who are discerning the possibility of a priestly vocation,” Father Michael Romano, director of Vocations, says that “everyone in the diocese is invited,” including parishioners, priests, women religious, and young adult and youth groups.
“It is an opportunity for all of us as a diocese to gather together to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life,” he said. “Since priestly vocations is one of the six pastoral priorities of our diocese, we hope that many will consider joining us in this initiative.”
(The other Pastoral Priorities are Liturgy, Lifelong Faith Formation, Youth and Young Adults, Lay Ministry and Compassionate Outreach. These are key areas of concern that were identified as a result of the “Speak Up” sessions Bishop Joseph Galante held in each parish of the diocese several years ago.)
This will help all of us to act on what Jesus tells us, to “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
The confirmed dates and locations for each First Thursday:
— Thursday, Nov. 3, Deanery IV at St. Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville
— Thursday, Dec 1, Deanery II at St. Peter, Merchantville
— Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, Deanery VI at Christ the Redeemer, Atco
— Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, Deanery I
— Thursday, March 1, 2012, Deanery V
— Thursday, April 5, 2012, Holy Thursday. Everyone in the diocese is asked to pray for an increase in vocations this day both at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and during the traditional church visits that evening.
— Thursday, May 3, 2012, Deanery VII
— Thursday, June 7, 2012, Deanery III
— Thursday, July 5, 2012, Deanery IX
— Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, Deanery VIII
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”