National Vocation Awareness Week

The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week from November 6-12. Across the United States, dioceses, parishes, and Catholic organizations will host events to promote vocations to the ordained ministry and consecrated life. The faithful are encouraged during this week to renew their prayerful support for those currently discerning a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life.

Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 when the U.S. bishops designated the 28th Sunday of the year for two main purposes: to call attention to the importance of upholding vocations and praying for those discerning a religious vocation and to celebrate those who were in ordained ministry and consecrated life. In 1997, the celebration was moved to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In 2014, the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations moved the observance of National Vocation Awareness Week to November to influence youth and young adults by engaging Catholic schools and colleges.

Resources for dioceses to utilize during National Vocation Awareness Week, including homily aids, recommended reading and discernment tips, prayers of the faithful, and bulletin-ready quotes are available on the CCLV website. To read more about National Vocation Awareness Week from the USCCB, click here.