Loving God, Your Son, Jesus, has shown us that an open heart finds the way. Help me to find my way in this world. Keep my heart open to following Jesus’ way of serving others in love. Give me the courage to accept the guidance you offer me through my family, friends, and my parish community. Through the Holy Spirit, you call me to a particular way of life. If it is the way of a priest, sister, brother or deacon, then help me to walk it in joyful service to your people. With you, my God, I know I can find my way. Amen.

Gracious God, you have called me to life and gifted me in many ways. Through Baptism you have sent me to continue the mission of Jesus by sharing my love with others. Strengthen me to respond to your call each day. Help me to become all you desire of me. Inspire in me to make a difference in others’ lives. Lead me to choose the way of life you have planned for me. Open the hearts of all to listen to your call. Fill all with your Holy Spirit that we may have listening hearts and the courage to respond to you. Enkindle in my heart and the hearts of others the desire to make the world a better place by serving as Lay Minister, Sister, Priest, Brother or Deacon. Amen.

O Lord, help me know your will for me. Let your light shine in the depths of my heart that I may know what you want me to do with my life. Help me believe that you have a special plan for me. Lord, I know I pass through this life only once; Help me decide how you want me to make a difference. Like our Blessed Mother, give me the wisdom to hear your voice and the courage to answer your call. Above all give me peace of mind and heart. I offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Loving God, you have given us the privilege as well as the responsibility of being loving parents. In the name of Jesus, we ask you to guide us as we invite our children to hear your call to service and leadership in our church. May our children respond with deep faith and generosity to the needs of God’s people. Help us to be a source of encouragement to our children by our own desire to be committed people who serve with love and enthusiasm. (NRVC – Australia)

Oh God, creator of the universe, your people are longing to hear your word. Send laborers into your harvest, women and men on fire with your love. Send us ordained ministers, who gather the prayers and longings of your people, and serve as a channel of your presence through the sacraments. Send us religious sisters, brothers, and priests - whose life in community foreshadows our eternal unity in Christ, and whose service brings your life to the world. May each of us respond with courage and generosity to our particular vocations, and may the Church recognize the Spirit’s call to men and women of goodwill, trusting in your abundance to answer all our needs. Amen.

Father, we’re your people, the work of your hands. So precious are we in your sight that you sent your Son, Jesus. Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted, to dry the tears of those who mourn, to give hope to those who despair, and to rejoice in your steadfast love. We, the baptized, realize our call to serve. Help us to know how. Call forth from among us priests, sisters, brothers and lay ministers. With our hearts you continue to love your people. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself. And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may not know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will not leave me to face my perils alone.

Gracious and loving God, you have blessed us with the privilege of becoming parents. We ask that you provide us with all that we need in accepting this awesome responsibility. We pray that we will be open to your spirit who is our source of strength as we witness to our children your love for each of them and your desire for them to be happy and to live a full life. We ask your help so we may guide and encourage our children to believe that they each have a special calling and to use their gifts and talents for others. We pray, Heavenly Father, that our children will discover and respond enthusiastically to your desire for them whether it be to the vocation of single, married, ordained or consecrated life. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Mrs. Dorothy Foss

O Mary, Queen of the Order of Friars Minor: Guide and direct us that we may make known your name and mercies to all nations and peoples. Bless our humble efforts for your Divine Son, King of the Universe. We beseech you to inspire noble and chosen souls among the youth for a life in Christ in the spirit of our holy Father Saint Francis. With motherly benevolence foster and strengthen many vocations for the Order of Friars Minor so that seraphic love, labor and sacrifice will ever continue to flourish in this land of yours. Amen. Almighty and eternal God, in your unfailing care you provide your Church with witnesses of your love for us. We pray for those whom you call to religious life to rebuild your Church, following the way of St. Francis of Assisi. Inspire in them a generous response. Grant them courage and vision to answer the challenge of the gospel. May their lives and service encourage your people to respond to the presence of your Spirit among us. May we, too, know you better. Open our hearts to hear your call. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.