National Vocations Awareness Week invites Catholics to welcome God’s call

Beginning Sunday, November 2, Catholics nationwide are invited to participate in National Vocations Awareness Week. This celebration invites believers to reflect upon God’s plan for their lives; learn more about vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, consecrated life, and marriage; pray for those who have dedicated their lives to God; and support those who are considering a religious vocation in the Catholic Church.

Catholic vocations take three main forms: Bishops, priests, and deacons receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Other men and women are called to the Consecrated Life, becoming nuns, sisters, monks, brothers, hermits, consecrated virgins, and missionaries. Many others are called to Holy Matrimony and family life. Regardless of the vocation, each is a response to a personal call from God.

Just three days after his election, Pope Leo XIV addressed the topic of vocation in remarks made in St. Peter’s Square:

To young people, I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!”
– Pope Leo XIV

In a video posted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to promote the weeklong celebration, clergy and religious reflect on the blessings they have experienced personally and in their communities. One nun calls her vocation “a journey of love.”

The Office of Priestly Vocations of the Archdiocese of Newark is offering a variety of resources and activities during National Vocation Awareness Week to foster awareness and support for vocations.

Among the initiatives:

Prayer Warrior for Vocations Kit

These kits, available for purchase by parishes and schools, help encourage a week of prayers for vocations in individual homes and classrooms.

The kit contains items such as a tabletop crucifix, statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rosary, and prayer journal.

Also included is a prayer booklet in English and Spanish to assist those who seek guidance in prayer.

“There is no best prayer, nor is there a wrong way to pray,” says Father Patrick Seo, Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Newark. “Any and every prayer is wonderful!”

Holy Hours for Vocations

Parishes across the Archdiocese of Newark will be offering Holy Hours for Vocations, mainly on November 4. Dates and times vary by parish, however. To see a list of participating parishes, visit the Office of Priestly Vocations website.

Seminarians Poster

The 2025 seminarian poster is already on display at many parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese, and a digital copy is available for bulletins, newsletters, and social media. The office has also prepared a list of seminarians, along with a short prayer for vocations in nine languages, to encourage everyone to pray for the men by name.

Other Initiatives

Each day of National Vocations Awareness Week, you can visit @newarkpriest on Instagram and Facebook to post themed pictures or participate in events that help you deepen your understanding of your own vocation and support the vocations of others. Events include “Selfie with a Sister,” “Send a Sem a Sentiment,” “Spoil Your Spouse,” and more!

For information about these and other National Vocation Awareness Week events in our Archdiocese, click HERE. You can also learn more about the week on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

Learn more about vocations in the Archdiocese of Newark below:

– For the Priesthood

– For Religious Life

– For the Permanent Diaconate

Featured image: Newly ordained Father Michael Bollinger blesses his brother Father Robert Bollinger at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on May 24, 2025. The two men were ordained to the priesthood a week apart. (Photo by Julio Eduardo Herrera / Archdiocese of Newark)