National Vocation Awareness Week highlights call to priesthood, religious life

The U.S. Catholic Church is observing National Vocation Awareness Week to increase awareness and support for those discerning ordained ministry or consecrated life.

New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, encouraged Catholics to pray for and support priestly and religious vocations, highlighting the witness of those who have responded to God’s call.

“As we draw near the busiest time of the year, a season marked by thanksgiving and joy, National Vocation Awareness Week reminds us of the beautiful witness of those who have responded to God’s call to serve in ordained ministry as priests and deacons, and men and women who serve in consecrated life,” Hicks said in a statement. “This National Vocation Awareness Week, we thank God for all vocations and pray for a deepened spirit of joy in marriages, in the priesthood and diaconate, and in all forms of consecrated life. Your witness to a joy-filled vocation inspires young people to follow God’s call with courage.”

Catholic organizations, dioceses, schools, and parishes are observing the week Nov. 1–7 by promoting the welfare and vocational call to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through events, prayer, and education. Across the country, consecrated religious are recalling their vocational promises and how they personally discerned their call to religious life.

“My initial reaction was, ‘Oh no, not me. I have plans in life.’ Then, it was very persistent to me. There, I realized that saying ‘yes’ to him — it can make me very happy in life — only when I am able to discover what he wants for me,” said Sister Ruby Sampang, a member of the Religious of Mary Immaculate (RMI) and residential director at Centro Maria Catholic Housing in Washington, D.C.

Originally from the Philippines, Sister Ruby has spent decades serving young women around the world. She said helping them respond to God’s call has been her “greatest joy.”

“My joy, my greatest joy, as I said, is saying yes in the end,” Sister Ruby said. “He gave me that grace to say yes, and that gave me a lot of joy; it gave me a lot of freedom.”

“God makes his way through when he wants it. So, we just need to trust it and to trust him. And I think my greatest joy too is to be with young women,” she said.

During the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo XIV said: “Every vocation is an immeasurable gift for the Church and for those who received it with joy.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops established National Vocation Awareness Week in 1976 and originally observed it on the 28th Sunday of the year. After the observance occasionally coincided with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the bishops moved it in 2014 to the first full week of November.

Encouraging Catholics to pray for and support vocations, Hicks said: “This National Vocation Awareness Week, we thank God for all vocations and pray for a deepened spirit of joy in marriages, in the priesthood and diaconate, and in all forms of consecrated life. Your witness to a joy-filled vocation inspires young people to follow God’s call with courage.”