Diocese of Lubbock Vocations

Did you catch Father Jeremy and Seminarians Jack and Jesus on Trends & Friends at 5pm? Check them out and plan to join us Friday at Kickin'It with the Holies 3 at Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Lubbock!

3rd annual Kickin’ It With The Holies Fundraiser at Holy Spirit Catholic Church LUBBOCK, Texas—The Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Lubbock, together with the Knights of Columbus, will be hosting the 3rd annual Kickin’ It With The Holies Fundraiser on Friday, April 19 at…

As we move through Lent, meaningful self-reflection becomes a key part of getting ready for the joy of Easter and celebrating Jesus' resurrection. In the spirit of this quiet season, extend support to those listening for God's calling. Find impactful ways to encourage vocations in your parish, nurturing seeds of spiritual discernment.

🔹Vocation Activity Highlight🔹

St. Matthew says in his gospel, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you: For everyone who asks, receives; and the one that seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [(Matthew 7:7-8)]

Offer Eucharistic Adoration, specifically with the intention that more men and women to generously say yes to God’s call. Jesus is waiting to be asked, and he is truly present in the Eucharist. What makes more sense than to invite his people to enter into his heart to beg for workers for his fields? Encourage parishioners to storm the heavens with the vital request for more vocations with the knowledge and confidence that no prayer goes unanswered.

Download this guide to an Adoration for Vocations: https://i.mtr.cool/zmpgxtujcw

💡Did You Know?💡

Almost all responding religious of the Profession Class of 2023 (96%) participated in one or more of these prayer practices or groups regularly prior to entering their religious institute.
🔹82% participated in Eucharistic Adoration.
🔹72% recited the rosary
🔹72% participated in a retreat
🔹69% had spiritual direction before entering their religious institute

Stats from the CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) Report of Women and Men Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2023

💡Did you know?💡

Many children are drawn to the priesthood and religious life when they see it lived out so beautifully!

Some ideas to foster this are:

Give your child and the Holy Spirit every opportunity to connect and grow their relationship.

Encourage your priest in front of your children each week
Giving your children opportunities of silence through retreats and adoration

Pray for your child and his or her vocation and focus on teaching your children to love God, to do his will through a happy childhood, and to know that true happiness comes from doing God’s will.

Let’s create a vocation-friendly environment in our homes by living an authentic Catholic life.

Learn more: https://i.mtr.cool/yuuixynhmv

We continue to pray for all those who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life.

I love the first reading for this Sunday from First Samuel! Priests, this is a perfect weekend to share in your homily about doing God's will and following His call. Share part or all of your vocation testimony, too! Inspire others to answer YES!
Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you, “ Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am, “ he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
1 Sm 3: 3b-10, 19

We pray for Dennis, Antonio, Salvador, Santos, Jesus and Jack.

Prayers for seminarians as they start their spring semester! Write names of seminarians in the comments so that we can pray for them, too.

St. John Neumann intercede for more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life for the Diocese of Lubbock.

The life of a disciple is often a life of surprises as God’s plans become apparent. Think of St. Joseph, who received a message from an angel and quickly led the Holy Family to Egypt to protect the child Jesus. He would not have expected such a plan, but he was always listening and obeying God’s will for his life and family.

Today’s saint, St. John Neumann, also shows us the surprising ways God can work in lives if we are willing to obey the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit. John was born in Bohemia in 1811 and entered seminary as a young man. While studying to become a priest, he heard reports that missionary priests were needed in the United States. Despite the difficulties and sacrifices involved, John felt that God was calling him to leave his country and family and become a missionary. John was a tireless priest who had a life no one could have expected and eventually became the bishop of Philadelphia.

On what unexpected, providential turns might God be leading you if you listen to his promptings? How can you hear those promptings without making time for silent prayer? In the silence of your heart, listen for what God is calling you to, who he is asking you to serve, and how your life might be one of surprising holiness.

To read our daily Christmas reflections, please visit: https://www.kofc.org/en/who-we-are/our-faith/advent-reflections23.html

On this Memorial of The Holy Name of Jesus, let us pray that those who seek to serve Him as priests, sisters, brothers, and nuns, find comfort in his Holy Name. Amen.

Art by Randy Friemel

We all need healing! Thanks be to God we have our Savior!

As we journey through the Advent season, we are reminded of the significant act of faith and commitment that Joseph demonstrated when he said “YES” to God’s call for marriage to the Blessed Mother.

In the spirit of Joseph’s faithfulness and devotion, we invite you to say “YES” to our mission.

The essence of every family lies in embracing their divine calling. The profound love and sacrifice of holy matrimony exemplified by Mary and Joseph serves as an inspiration to us all. Your selfless generosity has the power to ignite a spark in others by helping us continue the momentum our workshops create promoting vocations such as sacramental marriage.

Prayerfully consider joining our mission to light a fire of vocations in our parishes and schools. Say “YES” today!
https://mtr.cool/anbtkecwig

This Advent Season we pray for our priests and seminarians for the Diocese of Lubbock.

Lord, we pray for our priests and seminarians, that they will have a holy Advent season and receive Christ anew.

Lord, we pray for our priests and seminarians, that they will have a holy Advent season and receive Christ anew.

The Office for Vocations and Seminarian Education hosted the annual Andew's Supper on the Feast of St. Andrew. We want to thank the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for providing the meal and Bishop Coerver, Father Seth and Deacon Adrian for being our guest speakers. We continue to pray for all those discerning a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.

United in prayer for priests: Foundation of Prayer for Priests

Support Office of Vocations | #iGiveCatholic I’m ready to support Office of Vocations on November 28, 2023 during . Learn more about Office of Vocations and all the other ministries participating in .

Support Office of Seminarian Education | #iGiveCatholic I’m ready to support Office of Seminarian Education on November 28, 2023 during . Learn more about Office of Seminarian Education and all the other ministries participating in .

Many children are drawn to the priesthood as they see it lived out so beautifully! To give your child and the Holy Spirit every opportunity to connect and grow their relationship, here are some concrete ways to encourage vocations in your family:
1. Prepare for Mass at Home
2. Go to MASS.
3. ATTEND AN ORDINATION OR PROFESSION OF VOWS as a family
4. CONFESSION
5. Be a part of ACTIVITIES AT THE PARISH
6. Attend RETREATS FOR FAMILIES, MEN, WOMEN, OR YOUTH
7. Allow your children to be ALTAR SERVERS
Learn more: https://mtr.cool/cvjrlbpsbh

The Office for Vocations is excited to announce that we are participating in this year’s special giving day with the campaign on GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. Any gifts made on GivingTuesday or during pre-giving between Nov. 13 - Nov. 27 will help us reach our fundraising goal. The funds that we are raising are going towards scholarships for those who will be attending the Quo Vadis and Fiat Camp. Click the link below to make your donation online. Thank you in advance for all of your prayers and continued support!

Support Office of Vocations | #iGiveCatholic I’m ready to support Office of Vocations on November 28, 2023 during . Learn more about Office of Vocations and all the other ministries participating in .

The Office for Seminarians is excited to announce that we are participating in this year’s special giving day with the campaign on GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. Any gifts made on GivingTuesday or during pre-giving between Nov. 13 - Nov. 27 will help us reach our fundraising goal. The funds that we are raising are going towards food for those at the Rother House our Diocesan Propaedeutic House located in Plainveiw, TX, monthly stipends for our seminarians, and Christmas home visit for our seminarians who are studying at Sacred Heart Seminary, Mundelein Seminary and Assumption Seminary. Click the link below to make your donation online. Thank you in advance for all of your prayers and continued support!

Support Office of Seminarian Education | #iGiveCatholic I’m ready to support Office of Seminarian Education on November 28, 2023 during . Learn more about Office of Seminarian Education and all the other ministries participating in .

Prayer For Priests | St. Therese of Lisieux - Catholic-Link St. Therese's prayer for priests: O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests; for your unfaithful and tepid priests;

The Catholic Church in the United States celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week on November 5-11, 2023. It is an annual weeklong celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.

During this week, you are invited to pray in a special way for vocations and for those who are discerning. Vocations begin with a relationship with Christ so reflect upon what you can do to help a young person come to know the Lord better. Pray. Witness. Encourage. Invite.

Are you ready?
National Vocation Awareness Week is from November 5-11. The main idea is to encounter- encounter Jesus, encounter joyful witnesses who have said Yes, and encounter education about vocations.
Focus on allowing parishioners and students to encounter vocations in a fresh way this year during National Vocation Awareness Week.

Find bulletin blurbs, prayers of the faithful, announcements, ideas, and downloadable resources:
Parishioners: https://vocationministry.com/parish-3/phase-i/ -i-2-9
Educators: https://vocationministry.com/education/phase-i/ -i-1-10

If you are interested in discerning a vocation to the priesthood, contact Father Jeremy at 806-792-3943 ext. 226 or at [email protected] and he will be happy to assist you.

If the answer is yes,

1. Contact your diocesan vocation director. You can find their information at your diocesan website.
2. Check out the resources at Vocations Outreach, which is a program run by Franciscan University. They have an amazing and FREE mentorship program for discerners. Find out more:
https://mtr.cool/xsuahocdcr
3. Check out the Resources for discerners from Vocation Ministry: https://mtr.cool/jczltbvqbi