FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 45, NO.1路 Friday, ~anuary 5, 2001
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly" $14 Per Year
Vocations Week underscores need for priests, religious ~
Posing the question to young adults is the goal of National Vocations Awareness Week.
broth,ers, teachers and parents. So the question is not original, but it is vital in the life of the Church! Most young people are quick to
By FATHER CRAIG R. PREGANA DIRECTOR OF VOCATIONS
FALL RIVER - "Have you thought about a vocation?" It would be difficult to count the number of times I have asked that question since beginning vocation ministry in our diocese a few years ago. Whether making a presentation to confirmation candidates, talking with servers at Mass, or simply m~eting young people at school, the question usually finds its way into the conversation! That same question has been asked over the years by many other priests, aswell as religious sisters and
FATHER CRAIG
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PREGANA
respond, "I have but it's not for me," while others admit that they never have thought about a vocation. However, there is a small number who acknowledge that they have given it some thought ... and prayer. These few are the reason for asking the question at all. " The challenge of vocation ministry is shared by all who call themselves "Catholic." As for the Church community, we work together at the task of identifying, encouraging and praying for vocations. This week, National Vocations Awareness Week, is a reminder to do our part in this vital work. As a diocesan family, the task is not to search the nation looking for would-be seminarians. Our task is to look within oilr parish" communities' for the young people whom we recognize from their Tum to page 12 - Vocations
A CHURCH window depicts the visit of the three kings celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany to be celebrated this Sunday. (CNS photo from Crosiers)
Pope calls on Christians to 're-evangelize life' By BENEDICTA CIPOLLA CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - Criticizing Western culture's tendency to sideline God, Pope John Paul II called on Christians to "re-evangelize life." In his annual message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the pope said contemporary society needs "the witness of men and women who show the fruitfulness of an existence that has its source in God." The text of the pope's message was released at the Vatican before Christmas. "Within the Christian community," he wrote, "each person must discover his or her own personal vocation and respond to it with generosity." POPE JOHN Paul II, shown here kissing a young visitor at a recent Jubilee Year celWhile emphasizing the ebration in Rome, in his annual message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations prayed event's theme, "Every Life is a in particular for ''young people who thirst for values and yet who are often unable to find the Vocation," the pope said attention should be focused especially way that leads to them:' (CNS photo) o
on the "urgent requirement" of ordained ministers and people ready to commit themselves to consecrated life. Asking the Holy Spirit to "stir up an abundant number of'vocations to special consecration," he said consecrated people can "encourage the Christian people to adhere ever more generously to the Gospel." . The pope prayed in particular for '~young people who thirst for . values and yet 'who are often unable to find the way that leads to them." "We need to lead them to meet the Lord and help them establish a deep relationship with him," he said. Calling on Christian parents to remain close to their children, the pope encouraged them to help "with the weighty decisions of adolescence and youth." Tum to page 11 - Pope