5th June 2007 - A date for your diary

On the Feast of St Boniface, the Cathedral Chapter of Canons are inviting everyone to a day at the Cathedral in Plymouth to celebrate our Christian Vocation. There will be a mass at midday, with the Bishop presiding, followed by some evening events, all of which are in the process of being planned by the DVT.

So, make a note in your diary now, and watch this space for further details!

Vocations Rereats at Downside Abbey

Dom Foster at Downside has just sent details of the Vocations Retreats they run at Downside Abbey

They are aimed at any young men who are interested in exploring the idea of vocation either to the priesthood, monastic or religious life. So they are not specifically about Downside Abbey. They started the programme last year, and were fullybooked on each occasion.The age range 18 - 35 years is not absolutely inflexible, but in most cases they say it is easiest and most helpful for older people to visit at other times.

If there is any information you need, please contact Dom Foster via the link above.

Priestly vocations

The Zenit site has some interesting things to say about what makes certain American diocese 'effective' in their vocational recruiting - specifically talking about priesthood here.

In summary, the 6 effective habits are;
Putting the Eucharist at the centre of vocational work.
Priests inviting prospective candidates.
Seminaries that are faithful to the magisterium (should there be any that aren't?)
Faithful families, especially those with committed fathers are most likely to produce candidates.
Interaction with priests.
Attendance at a World Youth Day.

I'm not sure about the seminary factor, as candidates don't have much of a choice there, at least in English diocese. But the rest seem fair enough to me.

I'm left with three questions;
How applicable are these learnings to the Plymouth Diocesan situation?
To what extent do we already posess these habits?
And if we do think we could be doing more, how do we go about that?

Some prayers for discernment

Some Definite Service - John Henry Newman

God has created me to do some definite service;
God has committed some work to me
Which is not committed to another.
I have my mission. I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
I have a part in this great work
I am a link in the chain,
A bond of connection between persons.

God has not created me for naught.
I shall do good, I shall do God’s work;
I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while
not intending it, if I do but keep God’s commandments
and serve the Lord in my calling.

Therefore I will trust my Lord.
Whatever, wherever I am, can never be thrown away.
I ask not to see - I ask not to know - I ask simply to be used.

**************************************

My Father, I abandon myself to you.
Do with me as you will.
Whatever you may do with me I thank you.
I am prepared for anything.
I accept everything,
provided your will is fulfilled in me and in all creatures.
I ask for nothing more, my God.
I place my soul in your hands.
I give it to you, my God,
with all the love of my heart,
because I love you.
And for me it is a necessity of love,
this gift of myself,
this placing of myself in your hands
without reserve
in boundless confidence,
because you are my Father.

(Charles de Foucauld, 1858-1916)