Washington D.C., Jan 7, 2009 / 01:31 am (CNA).- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced that the Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week from January 11 to January 17.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, said the week is a chance for parishes across the country “to highlight the gift of vocations in the church through prayer and education.”

“As a church, we recognize the need to safeguard and promote this gift,” he added.

Father James Steffes, the USCCB’s executive director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, added: “This week reminds us that it is our responsibility to pray for vocations and to invite young people to consider a call to ordained ministry and consecrated life.

“The church needs to help young people hear the Lord in prayer, so they can recognize him in their lives.”

National Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976 and originally began on the 28^th Sunday of the year. In 1997, the observance was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated on January 11.

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