From November 2-8, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week, an observance sponsored by the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. This is a dedicated time for all U.S. parishes to foster a culture and build a greater sense of community for vocations in the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.
Released by Holy Cross Vocations, the video Final Vows powerfully chronicles the culture of Holy Cross, and promotes the much cherished and deeply felt sense of community as revealed by the stories of six newly professed. The 6-minute video reveals the motivations of each to seek their radical commitment to Jesus.
“When a religious professes his vows, he consecrates himself to God through the Church, but he also solidifies his bond with his community,” said Rev. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., Director, Office of Vocations. “It is this bond with community we were eager to illustrate through the Final Vows video. We saw it as a powerful opportunity to offer a glimpse of our lives that rightfully highlights why a young person would want to discern a vocation.”
This broadcast of the Final Vows video, as well as support on the Vocations website through prayer is a joyous and inspired response to Pope Francis’ November 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, which underscored a need for the Catholic church to support and promote vocations as a way to “awaken in the young a desire to consecrate themselves completely to God and to preaching of the Gospel.”
“Not only does Final Vows embody the courageous act Pope Francis exhorts us to make in showing how our community benefits from the prayer and support of others, but it puts everyone in greater fellowship with those for whom they pray. It is now a face, a name, and a soul with whom they commune. This communion with one another is the same fellowship Pope Francis speaks of when detailing how we might guide young people on the path of special consecration,” said Fr. Gallagher.
