Podcasts about national vocation awareness week

President Biden promised to work together with the Trump transition team ‘"to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition…” The race to control the House continues, with dozens of contests yet to be called. And it's National Vocation Awareness Week, an annual celebration of the Catholic Church in the US.

On this week's episode, Bishop Burbidge:   Offers final encouragement on prayer and forming our consciences in advance of Election Day; access voter resources here   Highlights one of the special ways the diocese is celebrating National Vocation Awareness Week; watch now: “A Day in the Life of Catholic Priest”    Shares how the Gospel of Life is and can be embraced through adoption, especially adopting from foster care; learn more about Catholic Charities' Waiting Child program    Recounts the recent Masses celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed; watch the homilies from November 1 and November 2    Shares his upcoming travels to the Diocese of Raleigh to mark its 100th anniversary, and to Baltimore to confer with his brother bishops from across the United States at their annual fall meeting   He also answers the following question from the faithful:    “It's football season and I enjoy it when the networks show pre-game locker room shots of the players preparing for the game. You get to see such intensity and focus! What is it like to be a priest or bishop before the liturgy? Do you ever get anxious or nervous? Celebrating Masses every day, how do you get fired up?”

This week is National Vocation Awareness Week. How should the modern church teach and embrace vocations? What is the danger when lay people are taught that religious and priests are "like God?" Referred Links: 7 Saints Who Lived a Wonderful Single Life (Patron Saints for Single People) - Cool Catholics Do You Have a Vocation? | Catholic Answers Magazine The Better Part: The Religious or Priestly Vocation - Catholicism.org https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accounts/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/conventreform/support

EP068: Fr. John LoCocoFr. John LoCoco came from a family of 8 children and was one of two who had a vocation. In this episode of The EDIFY Podcast, Fr. LoCoco gives his take on the state of vocations in the Church as the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Here's why he thinks vocations to the priesthood are booming in some U.S. dioceses, and the role families and parishes must play in raising the next generation of priests. You won't want to miss this exclusive interview brought to you for National Vocation Awareness Week!Follow us on social media! Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Democrat senators urge President Biden to mandate insurance coverage of birth control pills. The Vatican's doctrine office says those who identify as transgender can be baptized. And, we share the story of one priest on National Vocation Awareness Week.

Follow Fr. Michael Delcambre's Homily for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time as he answers our parishioners' questions about Vocations in celebration of National Vocation Awareness Week. 

In this segment from the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discusses vocations awareness week, focusing on the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. We are called to pray for vocations, but also to encourage those who are considering a vocation.National Vocation Awareness Week, celebrated November 5-11, 2023, is an annual week-long 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.  NVAW began in 1976 when the U. S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for NVAW.  In 1997, this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 13 in 2013.  Beginning in 2014, NVAW was moved to the first full week of November.Notes:Prayer for Vocations (USCCB)Vocational Discernment ResourcesArt of Accompaniment ResourcesListen to the first part of the St. Vincent Pallotti series: on Apostolates and the Mission of the LaityFollow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotifyFr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

In this episode of the Catholic Sportsman Show podcast, join us as we talk with Deacon Marcelo Ferrari on his journey to and at St. John's seminary in Boston, Mass. God willing, his journey will continue as a Catholic priest as he looks forward to his ordination in May 2024. In addition, we discuss his involvement in the documentary: "Souls in the Game", which is available for free viewing at soulsinthegame.com or on YouTube. To fully appreciate and understand this episode of the Catholic Sportsman Show, we suggest watching the video before listening to the podcast.    At St John's Seminary, basketball is another way for the seminarians to grow closer to God, their teammates and their community. The sacrifice given on the court fosters a greater love of God, neighbor, and service of others through the support of a team.  Saint John's Seminary & the Archdiocese of Boston teamed up for “Souls in the Game,” a new documentary depicting the spiritual life of seminarians intertwined with their love of basketball. Web site for St. John's Seminary https://www.sjs.edu/ Information about the National Vocations Week in the Catholic Church can be found at National Vocation Awareness Week | USCCB   

November 5-11 is National Vocation Awareness Week and to chat about it, Mike sat down with two of his favorite young priests and vocation directors, Fr. Adam Cichoski and Fr. Joshua Nevitt from the Diocese of Camden. The duo tag team the vocations process in South Jersey, with Fr. Josh as the defacto promoter/recruiter and Fr. Adam as the seminarian discernment steward. We discuss their work AND the new seminarian process that was just rolled out this year that is being used in all dioceses. To learn more about the path to becoming a diocesan priest, go to https://camdenpriest.org. Listen to Talking Catholic everywhere podcasts can be found, at https://talking.catholicstarherald.org/show/talking-catholic, or catch us on Domestic Church Media radio Sundays at 11 AM or Mondays at 4 PM domesticchurchmedia.org. Follow us on... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingCatholic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingcatholic Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkingcatholic

Right now, we're continuing our look at vocations during this National Vocation Awareness Week by gaining some insights into the priesthood with an experienced priest of the Archdiocese. What exactly is spiritual fatherhood, and what does that practically look like as a priest? Fr. Skluzacek of the St. Paul Seminary fills us in.

Right on the heels of National Vocation Awareness Week, we thought it'd be helpful to take a look at the different types of orders around the Archdiocese - including secular institutes. Ever heard of those? What are the differences between a secular institute and a religious order? We'll get some answers today from Natasha Sager, member of the Caritas-Christi Secular Institute; and Jane Lynch, professed member of the Secular Institute of the Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ.

Report and analysis of the ongoing 2022 Midterm Election result tallies from the Catholic perspective with discussion on the outcome of state-level ballot initiatives on abortion. Plus, the Church celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week: how young women answered the call to the convent.

Dr. Tom Curran talks about three events: Election Day, the anniversary of his mother's death and National Vocation Awareness Week. Tom interviews Andy Tassani, District Governor of Cascade Chapter Serra Club, to discuss vocation awareness.

On this week's episode, Bishop Burbidge offers his: • Tips for discernment during this National Vocation Awareness Week   • Encouragement on how to pray through this Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory   o Be inspired by his recent homily from the Mass for All Souls' Day   • Hopes on how Catholics will respond to the sacred duty to vote   o To find your polling station or learn more about Catholic teaching on public policy issues, go to VACatholic.org   • Invitation to the Holy Hour and Rosary on the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe to launch the second year of preparation for the diocesan Golden Jubilee Bishop Burbidge also answers the following question from the faithful: • Each year, we begin Advent and I intend to pray through it, but I inevitably forget and end up surprised by Christmas. Any advice for staying focused on Advent throughout the season?  

Alex Solsma, a Seminarian for the Diocese of Arlington and former Director of Communications and Evangelization at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Alexandria, VA, shared a short reflection in honor of National Vocation Awareness Week. It was recorded at the end of a Mass at the Basilica on November 14, 2021. 

As the Church concludes National Vocation Awareness Week, Tara and Jerry discuss the importance of proper discernment while reflecting on their discernment journeys and sharing how encouragement may lead to a transformation within the Church.

Welcome to National Vocation Awareness Week. We can think about our vocation as our call from God to love in the world. God calls each of us as Christians to love, and the way each one of us loves is not in general but in particular. God calls us to love in the way that also makes each one of us happy. Religious life is a pretty unique calling. It's somewhat rare, although God is definitely still calling people to this vocation. Because it's unique, not as many people know much about religious life. So this week, we're going to tell you all about it. What we have for you in this podcast episode are some of our sisters sharing their thoughts about why they love being Sisters of Divine Providence so much. You'll enjoy these reflections and, hopefully, be inspired too. And if you still want to know more, if you yourself might be wondering if God is calling you to religious life, or if you are seriously discerning it, we'll have a question and answer conversation on zoom on November 21 at 4 PM. It will be just like you're sitting here in the living room with us chatting about life and God and love and service. It'll be great, so we hope you join us. You can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/QAwithSisters And if you feel like God might be calling you to explore a vocation to religious life, let me know and we can have a conversation about it. Email Sister Leslie at vocation@CDPKentucky.org. However God is calling you to love and serve, may you know always God's love for you.

Dina Marie talks with Fr. Jeff abouthttps://archdpdxvocations.org/ ( National Vocation Awareness Week. ) https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week (National Vocation Awareness Week), celebrated November 7-13, 2021, is an annual week-long 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.

How do you foster a culture of vocations in your family/parish/diocese? In this episode, Jacob Hopper and Jacob Martini are joined by Francis Strong, JohnPaul Stedwill, and Andrew Bilgri discuss National Vocation Awareness Week. As part of their discussion, they talk about how they are discerning God's will in their lives and give concrete ways to discern through their own personal experience. Pray for us and pray for holy vocations! "The holy spouses Louis and Marie-Zelie Guerin practiced Christian service in the family creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was St. Therese of the Child Jesus." -Pope Francis "Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit." -Pope Francis

 It's a joy to welcome Rhonda Gruenewald, founder and president of Vocation Ministry, to the show, especially as we approach National Vocation Awareness Week, November 7-13, 2021. Rhonda's quote comes from Mother Angelica: “Unless you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous."You can find this quote and more in Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles by Raymond Arroyo. Here you can find Vocation Ministry's YouTube playlists, including “Behind the Veil,” “Behind the Collar,” and “Behind the Habit.” To interact with others in discernment, join a group on Vocation Ministry's Facebook page.  And, of course, here are the sisters reading stories for all ages. Learn more about Rhonda's ministry at www.vocationministry.com. There, you can also get copies of her books, Hundredfold: A Guide to Parish Vocation Ministry and The Harvest: A Guide to Vocation Ministry in Education. Finally, be sure to follow her on Instagram (@vocationministry). To suggest a quote or a guest, follow the show on Instagram, @quoteme_podcast, or contact Lindsay at her website, LindsaySchlegel.com.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review wherever you find your podcasts, and tell a friend. Until next time, God bless you!

In this episode, Brother Rafael interviews Brother Kyle about his background, hobbies, and story of discernment. This episode is the final part of the 3 part mini series for National Vocation Awareness Week 2020.

In this episode, Brothers Rafael and J.D. provide a brief overview of the life of John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (a.k.a. the De La Salle Christian Brothers) and Patron Saint of Teachers. This episode is part 2 of a 3 part mini series for National Vocation Awareness Week 2020.

In this episode, Brothers Rafael and J.D. discuss the ins and outs of vocations. Together, they highlight a variety of aspects of the Brothers' vocation. This episode is part 1 of a 3 part mini series for National Vocation Awareness Week 2020.

You've heard that you're supposed to “discern your vocation”…but what does that ACTUALLY look like? That's what Sr. Peter Marie of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia is here to speak with us about! We're talking all about the vocations process over here for National Vocation Awareness Week, including what a come-and-see looks like, why it's NOT a bad thing to enter religious life + leave it before making final vows, and the importance of getting HELP + direction with your discernment process. Even if you're already in your vocation or not currently discerning, I think this episode is perfect for anyone who struggles with decision making and needs some encouragement in that area. Also, y'all, can I just say I love talking to religious sisters? Because I do. We need more of them for season 4, Amen? Today's episode is brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Jump on their email list today at everysacredsunday.com to snag early bird pricing today. Today's episode is also brought to you by Select International. If one of your 2020 goals is to go on a pilgrimage, the time to sign up is now! Head to selectinternationaltours.com/feminist to learn more.

AS202 Ask Sister podcast recorded live. Hosted by Sister Maxine with guest Sister Shannon Schrein, OSF.  Show Notes (2:20) National Vocation Awareness Week. (4:40) Listener asks how she might join the ranks of future theologians. (11:00) How new perspectives in theology bring a more expansive understanding of Christian tradition. (15:00) Welcoming in the next generation of theologians. (19:40) Listener asks how the terms “Christian” and “Catholic” evolved. (23:00) Chaos and heresy in the early Church. (34:50) The Dogma Dogs sing “21 Ecumenical Councils.” (36:20) Listener wonders how will she know if her Miraculous Medal is actually working. (40:30) Confusion about the Immaculate Conception. (42.30) Sacramentals: raising our minds and hearts to God.

AS127 Ask Sister podcast recorded live on January 16, 2013. Sponsored by aNunsLife.org ministry. Guest nuns join us to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week. Topics include: discerning a vocation, ups and downs of discernment, community, and more!

Summary of today's show: Our Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy look at the news headlines of the week, including reaction to the launch of Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan; George Weigel's lecture this week on Evangelical Catholicism; the new and improved Pilot Catholic Directory; the new annual report for the Archdiocese; and the March for Life and Roe v. Wade anniversary Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Disciples in Mission, George Weigel; Pilot Catholic Directory; Annual Report; March for Life 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show and ask Susan Abbott about a gathering her office is organizing tonight. She said for the Year of Faith they're going out into parishes for a series of events that attract catechists for inspiration and information. They have a talk on the Year of Faith and then break into groups to work on skills and methods for lower grades and high school grades. Scot welcomed back Greg Tracy who was away last week on vacation with his wife. He comes back very tanned. A top story in this week's Pilot is some reaction to the announcement of the Phase 1 parishes for the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan. The story interviewed Fr. John Sheridan at St. James in Salem, where four parishes are in one collaborative. Greg Tracy said Fr. Sheridan said he's looking forward to the pastoral planning process and is confident the parishes will work together well because they are already working closely together on some initiatives. He was happy that there is now a plan, which Greg said is not untypical of priests in the Archdiocese. Before the pastoral plan, the problem of allocating priests and resources was handled on an ad hoc basis. Scot noted that like all the pastor of the Phase 1 parishes, Fr. Sheridan had to submit his resignation. Pastors and parishes in Phase 1 chose a path of uncertainty for the good of the Church. Susan said Fr. Sheridan says it's not a question of demotion, but that as a priest he has given his life for the good of the Church. Fr. Sheridan also speaks of parish identity. Susan said people here have a very deep sense of identity with the parish. Yet in the pastoral planning, Fr. Sheridan believes one parish identity will not dominate. He also spoke of the diversity of population and he said that music is a way to express that diversity. Scot said next week the show will cover in more depth the kickoff of Phase 1 training at the Pastoral Center, which will give the same training to Central Ministries' staff that parishes will receive to help them understand and appreciate what they'll go through. The employees are going through the training in two groups. Fr. Paul Soper, Director of Pastoral Planning, wrote on about the first day: We started the day with Mass. Then the Chancellor, John Straub, gave us a witness talk. Drs. Angela and David Franks, from TINE and Saint John's Seminary, followed that with a talk called “The Founding of the Church and the Beginning of Evangelization.” Bishop Kennedy came next, with “The History of Evangelization.” Then the Franks again, with “Holy Scripture: Testimony to Faith and Human Reason.” Then, after a lunch break, Michael Lavigne spoke on “Keeping Christ at the Center.” Finally, Mary Ann McLaughlin spoke on “Prayer, Sacraments, and Grace.” Scot encouraged listeners to follow this blog as it documents this very important process. they noted that 120 people is the workable capacity for a training like this at the Pastoral Center. Also in the Pilot is a summary of George Weigel's address at a lecture at St. Columbkille Parish in Brighton, sponsored by St. John's Seminary and the Year of Faith office. Susan said it's an interesting talk and she was thrilled to see that the Pilot article summarized the talk for readers. Scot said he first thought that Evangelical Catholicism was going to be about a Protestant-Catholic connection, but instead the book and the talk were about the Church's mission and how Vatican II outlined the reform of the Church so she could be more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ than she's been. The Church has always been reforming herself to be more faithful and effective to the mission of evangelization. Susan said evangelical is a connection to the New Evangelization. One of Weigel's points was a call to constant conversion and Susan said that echoes what Bishop Arthur Kennedy said in the first session of the Catholic Faith Essentials course on the continuum of conversion. Also in the Pilot this week is a story about the 2013 edition of the Pilot Catholic Directory and how it has reduced the number of pages while keeping the same amount of information. Greg also noted that they've managed to get the directory out earlier than usual. Sometimes it doesn't get out until March. Scot said that's partly because of the number of organizations that have to report and they've managed to streamline the reporting, replacing paper forms with online reporting. Greg added that Antonio Enrique, editor of the Pilot and the Directory, did an immense of work automating the collection and collating of data. Scot noted that the reduction in size came from changes in layout and examination of the best practices in such reporting across the country. The panel discussed the efficiency of using a printed directory over a website or searching Google. Greg said if you're looking for a retreat center, you could Google “retreat center Boston” and get dozens of dubious results or you can look in the directory to get a listing for which you can be confident. Susan said the sacramental index for all parishes is enormously interesting to her. But she also uses it to look up quick information. Scot said there are all kinds of interesting Catholic data like dates for Easter and how to address a letter to various members of the Church's hierarchy. To get your own copy, see your parish orcall Stephanie Rodricks at 617-779-3792. 2nd segment: Scot said an official notice was in this week's Pilot announcing Fr. Dennis Dever of St. Clement Parish in Somerville is resigning and will take Senior Priest/Retirement status, effective February 2. He has served the parish for over 20 years. Also there is a notice in the Pilot this week that the Archdiocese is releasing it's Fiscal Year 2012 annual financial report. This release has been part of Cardinal Seán's initiative for transparency and accountability. Scot said the archdiocese releases more data than any other diocese in the country. Greg noted that while some of the data is esoteric and understandable mainly for experts, it's still comforting that it's there and available and open for anyone to examine. Scot noted that the report is being published many months earlier than it has in the past. In some years it was almost one year after the fiscal year closed, because they had to get all the data in from all the parishes, schools, and associated organizations. Now they are able to release it just about six months later, which is line with other large organizations. Scot noted that the financial reports of the individual parishes and organizations are on the website as well. Scot said also in this week's Pilot is an obituary for Fr. Eugene P. Curtin, ordained in 1956. He was 81. The big story in the Church over the next week will be the 40th anniversary of the March for Life and the Roe v. Wade decision making abortion legal nationwide. Susan said she went to the first March for Life in Washington. She was the mother of three small children at the time. She left the kids with her husband and rode a bus contracted by Mass. Citizens for Life. They traveled overnight and marched during the day and then returned to Boston about 5 am. She hasn't been able to go back since then. She noted that the March has grown amazingly, especially with young people. Greg said he's been to six or seven marches over the years. Chris Pineo from the Pilot will travel with kids from the Archdiocese and Greg will travel with Cardinal Seán, who as chairman of the US bishops pro-life committee, will lead many of their events and gatherings, such as being the main celebrant at the Vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. He will also speak from the podium during the March on the National Mall. ALso in the Pilot is a column by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe who will be the emcee for the Assembly for Life at Fanueil Hall on Sunday, January 27. The main speaker at the event will be Abby Johnson, the former director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic who left that job and had a conversion to both Catholicism and pro-life. Johnson now works to help abortion clinic workers to leave the profession. Greg said once you get past all the euphemisms and see the consequences for real people in real life, that changes hearts and minds. Greg noted that the news media used to refer to fetus when speaking of abortion and unborn baby for all other pregnancies, but when the inconsistency was highlighted, they all switched to referring only to fetuses. Susan said Johnson's work is about helping clinic workers with the economic efforts of leaving their jobs and getting training and new jobs as well as the spiritual counseling and healing they will need. Scot mentioned that also locally most of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston will have Holy Hours for Life, cosponsored by the Office of Permanent Deacons and the Pro-Life Office. A list of local times is on the website of the . January 19 through 27, the US Bishops are asking for marking the 40th anniversary of the March for Life and Roe v. Wade. Scot noted that this week is the National Vocation Awareness Week and he encouraged all listeners to seek out and encourage men and women who may have a religious vocation.

Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Vocations Awareness Week; March for Life; New Cardinals; Fr. Barron's persons of the year Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and Susan Abbott discuss the news of the week with Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy, including Vocations Awareness week, especially how parents can promote vocations by teaching their children to pray and how all can hear their vocational call more clearly by making a habit of prayer. Also, more youth than ever are heading to the annual March for Life, while those who can't go are gearing up for a record-breaking number of Holy Hours for Life; 22 new cardinals for the Church, including two Americans; a national conference for deaf Catholics to be held in Boston; and Fr. Robert Barron's persons of the year in response to a dubious choice by the National Catholic Reporter. 1st segment: Scot and Susan commented on the bad weather in Boston today and whether it would have been better to have the freezing, pelting rain or blowing snow. Scot said various groups in the Archdiocese are coming into the Pastoral Center to talk about Pastoral Planning. Susan said they are difficult conversations, especially with the fear of the unknown, but everyone acknowledges that we can't have business as usual. 2nd segment: Scot and Susan welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry to the show. Scot said this week is National Vocation Awareness Week, starting this past Monday to Saturday. He said the Church's takes this week seriously, not just for priestly vocation shortages, but also for the decline in the number of marriages. Susan said she is thrilled that they are looking at the whole of vocations, not just priesthood. Fr. Roger Landry in his editorial in the Anchor this week discusses the vocation of the baptized. Susan said it's a challenge in this day and age of iPods and earbuds to hear the call of God. She recommended a video from Grassroots Films called “Fishers of Men”. Scot quoted St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations from the CNS story: “Through a culture of vocation in families, parishes, schools and dioceses, Catholics can nurture an environment of discipleship, commitment to daily prayer, spiritual conversion, growth in virtue, participation in the sacraments and service in community,” the archbishop said. “Without this environment, promoting vocations becomes simply recruitment. We believe we have much more to offer our young people.” Greg commented on how formation in the Christian family, learning to pray, being involved in the sacramental life of the Church, and seeing their parents live the vocation of marriage are foundational for vocations for priesthood. Scot said in 1997, the vocation awareness week was moved to coincide with the Feast of Baptism of the Lord. Fr. Roger said everything in our life flows from the call we receive at our baptism. The Greek word for Church, ecclesia, means the assembly of those who are called. Scot said that in Fr. Roger's editorial he wrote about the great decrease in the number of sacramental marriages in the Church. Normally when we hear the expression “vocations crisis” we think of the diminishing numbers of priests or religious. The expression is also now commonly being used to refer to the crisis in the understanding of the vocation to the Sacrament of Marriage: not only is the number of sacramental marriages way down and the percentages of divorce, cohabitation and civil unions way up, but many Catholics seem to be incognizant that marriage is a true calling by God, not just a consequence of ephemeral sexual or emotional attraction. Susan said she was struck by what Fr. Roger wrote about a common habit of prayer, where most people who even bother to pray just a few words at the end of the day, is a habit of conversation that wouldn't be able to even sustain a marriage. He remarked on the number of people who come to confession tell him that they don't pray every day, and the people who come to confession are those with a higher level of practice of the faith. He said it's a matter of priorities. We find time to eat and we even find time to watch TV, but we squeeze God in after all the other things we think are more important. Scot said part of being a good parent is teaching kids how to pray. Greg said he and his wife pray with all the kids every night before bed. They start them from the youngest age and it's not optional for any of them. They attend Mass Saturday evening so they also pray together every Sunday morning around the table, reciting the Psalms of Morning Prayer and reading a Scripture, usually the Gospel of the day. Then they have a dialogue about what they've read. Susan said as a catechist and parent, she recalls teaching other parents to pray when she worked in the parish. They encouraged them to start with grace before meals, even with older kids, and to bless their children every night before bed. The parents really responded to that. Once parents get used to it, it makes such a difference in the family's lives. Scot said it's very important for the Dads to be involved. Greg said when his kids come to him for help or advice, he encourages them to think about what God would want them to do in this circumstance. Fr. Roger said the key is to be consistent in prayer, praying even on days when we don't feel like it. If we pray when we don't feel the Lord speaking to us, then we won't be praying when we would be able to hear him. He recalled that his parents praying every day, even when he didn't feel like it, gave him the foundation to be able to pray on his own when he got to college. Scot aid Fr. Roger's editorial emphasized the importance of listening to God's voice, not just talking the whole time. Fr. Roger said the person should just be conscious that God is there, perhaps to pray at the beginning saying that. Then to praise, thank, bless, ask, and offer penance. Finally, then to be quiet and listen to how God might speak to our heart. He said adults don't do well with this naturally, but kids seem to understand how God responds to us. When we quiet our imaginations and our senses, the Lord enlightens us with insights. 3rd segment: Scot said the cover story in the Pilot this week is that almost 500 youth from Boston are planning to go to the March for Life in Washington DC on January 22. They will be involved in several events over the course of a few days. Greg said this is a full multi-day pilgrimage, including opportunities to be with Cardinal Seán. Since they began this trip as a pilgrimage for life about 4 years ago, the numbers have increased every year. It's as close to World Youth Day as you can get without going to an actual World Youth Day. Scot said some estimates for this year is that between 400,000 and 900,000 will attend the March for Life. Susan recalled going to the first March for Life 39 years ago. Fr. Roger said in the years he's taken youth to the March for Life, he's seen the transformations among youth. Many who went on the trip on a lark, came back changed into pro-life advocates. He would take them to the Holocaust Museum to see what man's inhumanity to man looked like on an unrestrained scale. At the Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, they would experience Mass among a sea of their peers enthusiastic for their faith. Scot said many parishes in the archdiocese are hold Holy Hours for Life, as co-sponsored by the group Deacons for Life and the Pro-Life Office. A record number of 203 parishes will be holding the Holy Hours. Call 508-651-1900 for more information. 4th segment: Last Friday, Pope Benedict XVI named 22 new cardinals to be elevated at a consistory planned for February 18. The two from the United States are Archbishop Edwin O'Brien and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. Both men were rectors of the Pontifical North American College. “This is not about Timothy Dolan,” the New York cardinal-designate said. “This is an honor from the Holy Father to the Archdiocese of New York. … It's as if Pope Benedict is putting the red hat on top of the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty, or on home plate at Yankee Stadium.” Greg said his wife is a Mets fan and might take exception to that characterization. He said it makes him think to when Cardinal Seán came to Boston and people speculated on when he would be named cardinal and when it happened there was a sense that the Holy Father had deemed Boston worthy again. Scot said it is an honor for the city and the people. He said in 2006 when Cardinal Seán was named in February ahead of the March consistory, there was a large group from Massachusetts at the audience, including Scot and Fr. Roger's parents as well as people from the Fall River diocese where the cardinal was bishop before, who cheered loudly and unexpectedly. Fr. Roger said he's thrilled for both Dolan and O'Brien. Archbishop Dolan was the rector of the Pontifical North American College when he was a seminarian there. Archbishop O'Brien saved the NAC, which was a wreck when he came. He hopes they will continue to serve as examples of what priests need to do as images of Christ. Scot said while about 500 people came from Boston when Cardinal Seán was elevated, he expects that New York will have an unprecedented number of pilgrims to come to the consistory to celebrate. Scot noted that in other news, there is a national conference for deaf Catholics in Boston starting on January 13. They will be looking at what Boston is doing in terms of deaf ministry, including Fr. Sean Carey, assistant director of the deaf apostolate and one of only nine deaf priests in the US. Cardinal Seán will celebrate a Mass for all the attendees at Sacred Heart Church in Newton, which has a weekly American Sign Language Mass. Scot said there is an obituary in this week's Pilot for Fr. Nicholas Driscoll, who was ordained in 1969 and grew up in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. Scot said there is also an announcement in this week's bulletin that Fr. John M. Sullivan will become the new pastor of St. Margaret in Burlington, leaving St. Mary of the Annunciation in Melrose. Also in this week's Pilot is a column by nationally known priest Fr. Robert Barron about the persecution of Christians worldwide. He notes that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Seventy-five percent of those killed for religious reasons throughout the world are Christians. At the end he writes: And this leads me to declare persecuted Christians as people of the year. At this point, I will make a confession. This reflection was prompted by a piece published by the editors of the National Catholic Reporter. In their lead article, they declared Sister Elizabeth Johnson, a theologian from Fordham University, as the “person of the year” in the Catholic Church. What was the reason for this designation? Sister Johnson, they explained, had been unfairly “persecuted” by the bishops of the United States who dared to question the theological integrity of one of her many books. The bishops did not excommunicate Sister Johnson, or strip her of her teaching position or declare her not to be a Catholic theologian. They simply were critical of aspects of one of her books. And for this, a tenured professor at Fordham, a woman lionized by the academic establishment, is declared a persecuted victim. Give me a break. The nineteen-seventies era narrative of brave progressive theologian fighting against the repressive church is tired and utterly un-illuminating. Far more compelling is the story of the truly brave souls who are risking livelihood, life, and limb in order to declare their faith in Jesus Christ. Fr. Roger said he wishes he could have written this piece as Fr. Barron did so well. Susan and Greg both found it to be great. Scot recommended Fr. Barron's great miniseries, which is available on DVD, as well as EWTN and local PBS stations, called “Catholicism”.