World Day of Prayer for Vocations

"A vocation is a precious gift that God sows in our heart, a call to leave ourselves behind and embark on a journey of love and service. Every vocation in the Church, whether lay, ordained or consecrated, is a sign of the hope that God has for this world." - Pope Francis

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, the Catholic Church celebrates the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a day set aside to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Lk 10:2). The theme for 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope: the Gift of Life."

While upholding all vocations, on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, members of the Church most especially pray that young men or women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.

"Every vocation is inspired by hope, marked by confident trust in God’s providence. For Christians, hope is more than mere human optimism: it is a certainty based on our faith in God, who is at work in each of our lives," Pope Francis wrote in his World Day of Prayer for Vocations message, issued a month before his death.

The pope urged all to support young people as they seek to discern the vocation to which God is calling them.

"A vocation is never a treasure stored away in the heart; rather, it grows and is strengthened within a community that believes, loves and hopes. No one can respond to God’s call alone, for all of us need the prayers and support of our brothers and sisters," the pope wrote.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated annually on Good Shepherd Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday of Easter. The day was instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1963. During Masses, prayers for vocations will be offered, and all are asked to join on this day in praying for vocations.

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood

God our Father,
From eternity You appointed Your only begotten Son
to be the High Priest of the human race.
Pour forth, we beseech You,
Your Holy Spirit upon our families,
that vocations to the priesthood may be multiplied.
Lord Jesus, give us holy priests:
To offer up the sacrifice of the Mass;
To lead the little ones to You;
To strengthen the faith of believers;
To preach the Gospel to all peoples;
To bring forgiveness to sinners;
To feed souls the Bread of Life;
To comfort the suffering & dying, and
To spread Your Kingdom in our midst.
Mary, Mother of our High Priest, pray for us and obtain for us an increase of holy priests.
Amen

Prayer for Vocations

Loving Father, you sent your Son so that all might come to know the truth and be saved. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you continue his work through the Church. Your Son reminded his disciples that the harvest was indeed plentiful but the laborers few. Following his instructions, we beg you to call many to ordained ministry and religious life. Grant them the grace to hear you and to respond wholeheartedly. May Mary Immaculate, the mother of your Son and the patroness of our diocese, intercede for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Paul VI's Prayer on the First World Day of Prayer for Vocations

“O Jesus, divine Shepherd of souls, you called the apostles and made them fishers of men. Continue to draw to yourself ardent and generous souls from among the young, in order to make them your followers and your ministers. Give them a share in your thirst for the redemption of all… Open before them the horizons of the entire world…By responding to your call, may they prolong your mission here on earth, build up your Mystical Body, which is the Church, and be ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’ (Mt 5:13)”. (April 11, 1964)

Prayer for Discernment for Vocations to Religious Life, Priesthood, and Diaconate

There is so much competing for my attention, God,
and all I want is to know you better.
Reach through my busy days to draw me closer to you.
I ask for wisdom to make decisions that lead me to the light.
I ask for light to follow the path that leads me to love.
I ask for love to fill my heart that searches for you.
All of this, my God, I ask so that I may
be your mercy to each and all.

Written by Sister Danielle Gagnon, RSM

Additional prayers and downloadable prayer cards

Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)

For the Church, that on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, more young men may hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him as priests. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those discerning their vocation, that they may be attentive to the voice of Jesus in their hearts, leading them to a life of service and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may actively promote and support vocations through prayer, encouragement, and providing opportunities for discernment. Let us pray to the Lord.

Study on Ordinations in the Church

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations released a study on ordinations in the Church conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. A few of the major findings of the report are:

On average, responding ordinands first consider the priesthood when they are 16 years old.
Around 40% of respondents attended a Catholic school on the K-12 and/or college level.
Around 90% were encouraged to consider the priesthood by someone in their life (most frequently, the parish priest, friend, or another parishioner).

Another interesting statistic was that before entering the seminary, 72% of those set for ordination prayed the Rosary.

Pope Francis on Vocations

God addresses a particular call to each of us. He touches our lives by his love and directs them to our ultimate goal, to a fulfilment that transcends the very threshold of death.

As Christians, we do not only receive a vocation individually; we are also called together. We are like the tiles of a mosaic. Each is lovely in itself, but only when they are put together do they form a picture. Each of us shines like a star in the heart of God and in the firmament of the universe. At the same time, though, we are called to form constellations that can guide and light up the path of humanity, beginning with the places in which we live.

When we speak of ‘vocation,’ then, it is not just about choosing this or that way of life, devoting one’s life to a certain ministry or being attracted by the charism of a religious family, movement or ecclesial community. It is about making God’s dream come true, the great vision of fraternity that Jesus cherished when he prayed to the Father ‘that they may all be one’ (Jn 17:21). Each vocation in the Church, and in a broader sense in society, contributes to a common objective: to celebrate among men and women that harmony of manifold gifts that can only be brought about by the Holy Spirit.