“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19
Since the time of the apostles, Christ has personally called men and women to dedicate their lives in service to Christ and his Church as priests, sisters, and brothers. These callings are precious gifts that every Christian should consider and be open to receiving! Priests and religious are consecrated to be signs to the world of the joy-filled communion with God that we are all made for.
To learn more about a vocation to the Catholic priesthood or religious life, contact one of our priests and check out the Diocese of Joliet’s Vocations website.
Vocations Prayer
God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in Your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, religious, and consecrated persons.
May we at Our Lady of Mercy encourage and support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth.
Send your Holy Spirit to help those who are called to ordained ministry and religious life, to respond generously and courageously.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer for Our Priests
Gracious and loving God, we thank Your for the gift of all our priests, especially Father Michael and Father James. Through them, we experience Your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation, enshroud them in Your loving protection always. Set their souls on fire with love for Your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of Your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.