CHARLESTON—The Diocese of Charleston has chosen as its vocations theme for the coming year the words of Mary from St. John’s Gospel: “Do whatever He tells you.”
It will be printed on the new vocation posters, which will display an image of Mary holding the Christ Child along with pictures of all current seminarians.
Parishes and schools throughout the state will receive the posters mid- to late September. The images are just one aspect of the diocesan effort to promote vocational awareness and openness to service in the church, according to Father Jeffrey F. Kirby, vicar for vocations. He said the vocations website (charlestonvocations.com) is being updated to match the new poster.
It will also have new videos and information on the priesthood and religious life.
Father Kirby urges Catholics to let these men know they are supported in their vocations. Nine in 10 ordinands report being encouraged to consider the priesthood by someone in their life, according to an annual national survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University for the USCCB’s Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocation.
The survey also showed that 57 percent of ordinands in the class of 2011 said they were discouraged from pursuing a vocation by friends and classmates; 52 percent said they were discouraged by a parent or other family member.