Jesus tells us how to get the priests the Church needs: "Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for His harvest." (Matthew 9:38). The priests we need are out there. God has not stopped calling. We have to ask.
The word ‘ask’ here in the original Greek is deomai. It means “to beg, to make desperate entreaty and urgent appeal, to feel pressing need because of lack.” All of us have ‘felt the pressing need’ due to the current shortage of priests.
And so I consider myself the official beggar of the Archdiocese. Every night I kneel before the Lord, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, and I beg Him to send us new priests - holy, zealous priests who are on fire for the Gospel and for the Church. But I am not asking for one or two or 10 new priests. I am asking for a thousand. And a thousand new religious sisters. And a thousand new Catholic marriages.
Our God is so lavish and excessive in His kindness. Asking for a thousand new priests is more befitting His grandeur and generosity. We have to be bold. Let’s have confidence in the power of the Living God!
You can join me in praying for a thousand new holy priests for the Archdiocese by becoming a member of the St. John Vianney Vocations Prayer Society. There are no dues or meetings, only a pledge to do two things:
Thank you for partnering with me in this prayer campaign and for all your efforts to encourage new vocations to the priesthood.
Warmly in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Federico
Vocations Director
Archdiocese of Hartford
The word ‘ask’ here in the original Greek is deomai. It means “to beg, to make desperate entreaty and urgent appeal, to feel pressing need because of lack.” All of us have ‘felt the pressing need’ due to the current shortage of priests.
And so I consider myself the official beggar of the Archdiocese. Every night I kneel before the Lord, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, and I beg Him to send us new priests - holy, zealous priests who are on fire for the Gospel and for the Church. But I am not asking for one or two or 10 new priests. I am asking for a thousand. And a thousand new religious sisters. And a thousand new Catholic marriages.
Our God is so lavish and excessive in His kindness. Asking for a thousand new priests is more befitting His grandeur and generosity. We have to be bold. Let’s have confidence in the power of the Living God!
You can join me in praying for a thousand new holy priests for the Archdiocese by becoming a member of the St. John Vianney Vocations Prayer Society. There are no dues or meetings, only a pledge to do two things:
- pray the Prayer for Priestly Vocations everyday.
- This prayer can be found below or in the pews of your parish.
- This prayer can be found below or in the pews of your parish.
- select the day of the week (on the dropdown menu below) which will be your assigned day to to attend Eucharistic Adoration if possible, pray the Rosary and fast with the intention of asking the Lord to send new, holy, zealous priests for the Archdiocese.
- If you are unable to get to Adoration on your chosen day, you can certainly go on another day or offer some other time of prayer or devotional instead. This is not about technicalities, it's about fervently praying for new priestly vocations.
- Fasting should be done in keeping with the spirit and instruction of the disciplines of the Church. If you are not able to fast from food, you can substitute some other convenience or comfort instead.
Thank you for partnering with me in this prayer campaign and for all your efforts to encourage new vocations to the priesthood.
Warmly in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Federico
Vocations Director
Archdiocese of Hartford
Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Hartford
Heavenly Father,
You have created us for a definite purpose.
Grant us the grace to know the path You have planned for each of us in this life, and to respond with a generous “Yes.”
Make my parish, my home and my heart fruitful ground for Your gift of vocations to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
May our young men respond to Your call with courage and zeal. Stir among them a desire and the strength to be good and holy priests. We make our prayer for priestly vocations to You, Father, in the Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Patron of our Archdiocese, pray for us.
Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us.
Heavenly Father,
You have created us for a definite purpose.
Grant us the grace to know the path You have planned for each of us in this life, and to respond with a generous “Yes.”
Make my parish, my home and my heart fruitful ground for Your gift of vocations to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
May our young men respond to Your call with courage and zeal. Stir among them a desire and the strength to be good and holy priests. We make our prayer for priestly vocations to You, Father, in the Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Patron of our Archdiocese, pray for us.
Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us.
