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'I will give my life' to the Lord

Prayer for Vocations Gracious God, we praise you for your love and compassion. You gave us your son, Jesus, to be our Shepherd who calls us and guides us along the path of life. May we be attentive to his voice in our world and discern how we may follow Jesus. Bless all who listen to your call and dedicate their lives to you. Strengthen them in their vocational commitment. Inspire women and men to recognize your call and to respond openheartedly to your invitation. May the Church be blessed with an increase of vocations to priesthood and religious life. With gratitude we offer our prayer through Christ, our Shepherd, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ©2002 National Coalition for Church Vocations

The Church dedicates the feast of Good Shepherd Sunday, May 11, as a day of prayer for vocations worldwide. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows us and is willing to lay down his life for us. In Jesus, God has graciously lavished us with love and calls us to follow.

The Church now encourages us, as Jesus' followers, to serve the flock by fully living our chosen vocation as priests, religious, married or single persons.

More than ever, our world needs to know the love of the Good Shepherd, to hear his voice, and to be led in his ways. Are we willing to carry on the mission of Jesus and give our lives for others?

This call to service is for every Christian.

Today we pray for the whole Church and ask God to bless each of us in our chosen vocation. We pray especially that women and men may consider responding generously to the call to give their lives as a priest, sister, or brother. May each of us continue the work of the Good Shepherd with our lives. Together may we foster vocations for the life of the Church of Green Bay.

(Sr. Zelten is vocations director for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement.)