Vocations

The Latest

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 27, 2017.

Pope Francis: God is calling you. Don’t make excuses.

Dec 4, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Do not wait to begin living out your vocation, Pope Francis said on Monday, encouraging people to stop making excuses... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2015.

Vocations that only seek to 'climb the ladder' are dead, Pope says

Sep 9, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Saturday, Pope Francis told Colombia's priests and religious that vocations come from a variety of different backgrounds and flourish... Read more

Priests and bishops at the canonization Mass of the Martins, Fr. Grossi, and Sister Maria on October 18, 2015 in St. Peter's Square.

An answer to prayers: priestly ordinations reach new peak in Scotland

Jul 10, 2017

Twelve men are set to be ordained priests in Scotland this year, a 20-year high that Catholic leaders credited to... Read more

Why married priests won't really fix the shortage

Jun 18, 2017

By Mary Farrow

In 1970, there was one priest for every 800 Catholics in the United States.    Read more

Priests celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Jan. 17, 2105.

Catholic Church grows as Americas, Europe trail in priestly vocations

Apr 6, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to Vatican statistics released Thursday, the Church in the Americas lags behind globally when it comes to the number... Read more

Seminarian.

From Yale to the seminary: a neuroscientist's story

Apr 4, 2017

Jaime Maldonado-Aviles thought that he would be spending his life behind microscopes at Yale as a neuroscientist. But his life... Read more

Pope Francis greets a local priest during his visit to the

Don't fret about numbers, but your mission, Pope tells Milan religious

Mar 25, 2017

By Elise Harris

During his daytrip to Milan Saturday, Pope Francis told the diocese’s priests and religious not to fear the challenges that... Read more

Pope Francis arrives to meet with youth at Kasarani stadium in Kenya on Nov. 27, 2015.

Youth to be protagonists in upcoming synod of bishops

Jan 13, 2017

By Elise Harris

With the 2014-2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family barely falling out of sight, the preparatory document for the next... Read more

Pope Francis hands rosaries to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his general audience May 4, 2016.

A new 'vocational culture' is needed in the Church, Pope Francis says

Jan 5, 2017

By Elise Harris

A fresh and courageous perspective is needed when it comes to helping youth discern and discover their vocation, Pope Francis... Read more

Ordinandi lay prostrate during the Litany of Saints during an Ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Sept. 29, 2016.

Want to aid vocations? Helping reduce debt is key, this group says

Jan 1, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

Personal and student debt can slow down or prevent prospective seminarians and aspirants to religious orders from pursuing their vocations,... Read more

A priest walks through St. Peter's Square.

Society needs priests 'enamored' with the Gospel, Pope Francis says

Dec 1, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his message for the 2017 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis focused on the need to be... Read more

A view of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica from the Vaticans Apostolic Palace.

In latest meeting, Synod of Bishops finalizes preparatory doc for 2018

Nov 23, 2016

By Elise Harris

The Synod of Bishops met in Rome this week to finalize the preparatory document and questionnaire that will form the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the International Congress of vocation ministry in Vatican City, Oct. 21, 2016.

Pope Francis: Where are vocations from? An encounter with God

Oct 21, 2016

By Elise Harris

When it comes to promoting vocations in the Church, Pope Francis said it all begins with an encounter with God... Read more

Mark Wahlberg.

Mark Wahlberg made a video about why he loves priests

Oct 5, 2016

In an online video, actor Mark Wahlberg said that he will be praying for vocations to the priesthood, which he... Read more

Fr. Joseph Enkh Baatar celebrates his first Mass, Aug. 28, 2016. Photo courtesy of Mbumba Prosper, CICM.

This is Mongolia's first native priest: Father Joseph Enkh Baatar

Aug 30, 2016

On Sunday Mongolia witnessed the ordination of its first indigenous priest, Fr. Joseph Enkh Baatar, a 29-year-old man who represents... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on April 16, 2014.

Pope: 'I saw much suffering' at Lesbos refugee camp

Apr 17, 2016

Pope Francis on Sunday reflected on the great suffering he had witnessed at the refugee camp in Lesbos. He remembered... Read more

Pope Francis says Mass for clergy and religious in Philadelphia's Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis to priests, religious: It's your job to inspire vocations

Sep 26, 2015

The Church today is called to foster among young people a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the Gospel mission,... Read more

Pilgrims fill St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' Wednesday general audience on Oct. 15, 2014.

Priests needed: As Church growth explodes worldwide, parishes can't keep up

Jun 12, 2015

By Matt Hadro

The global Catholic population is growing – so quickly, in fact, that priest and parish numbers cannot keep up, says... Read more

Franciscan Friars with filter.

'Little' friars credit vocation boom to Pope's name

May 26, 2015

By Elise Harris

Gathered in Rome for their general chapter meeting, members of the Order of Friars Minor – better known as Franciscans... Read more

A religious sister at the Beatification of Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 4, 2014.

Pope Francis: Vocations are about quality, not quantity

Apr 13, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Well-formed vocations are more important than numerous vocations Pope Francis said in address to religious formators on Saturday at the... Read more