Support Vocations

Special Collection January 14-15, 2012

Educating seminarians is an investment in the future of the Catholic Church in New Hampshire, but this goal cannot be fulfilled without the help of the faithful.

The cost to educate a seminarian is more than $100 for every day he is in formation. This expense includes tuition, room and board at a seminary.
100% of every dollar collected for the seminarian fund goes toward supporting the education of men studying for the priesthood.
This annual collection is the primary source of funding for seminarian formation.

A gift of $50 or more from every adult or family attending Mass would help educate our seminarians for another year. Mail your gift to the Office of Vocations, PO Box 310, Manchester, NH 03105. Each parish will be notified of gifts made by its parishioners. Please consider including the Seminarian Fund in your will or estate planning. Those interested in planned giving should contact Fr. Jason Jalbert at (603) 669-3100 or jjalbert@rcbm.org.

CLICK HERE to download the Seminarian Fund Brochure.

Donate online:

A Message from Bishop Libasci

Dear Friends,

I am so pleased that I have this opportunity to share with you a few words about vocations to the priesthood! As the Tenth Bishop of Manchester I am following in the footsteps of nine bishops who prayed and worked to provide “Good Shepherds” for the people of this state. I am grateful for all the work that they have done to build up the Church in this beautiful diocese.

At the beginning of his public life, Jesus called some fishermen on the shore of the Sea of Galilee: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). At the beginning of my ministry here in the Diocese of Manchester I realize the challenging and uplifting invitation that Jesus addresses to those to whom he says: “Follow me!” We believe that Jesus is continuing to invite men to become his friends, to listen attentively to his word and to follow him as priests. I look forward to fostering these vocations and taking special interest in our priests who, without a doubt, are the greatest promoters.

In addition to the priests, each one of you contributes to the promotion of vocations by living your lives in the spirit of faith and love which helps young people to hear and accept the call to priesthood and to religious life. The ten young men whom we currently have in the seminary are living witnesses of this. They are discerning a priestly vocation today because of their family, their parish, and a priest.

With trust and perseverance let us continue to encourage and pray that those who have been called will be more and more open to saying “yes” to the Lord. We can do it!

Did you know?

Newly-ordained priests were often influenced by their families, and involved in church activities.

In 2011 the average age of the 480 men ordained to the priesthood is trending younger with the average age at 34. These figures stand out in The Class of 2011: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood which can be found at www.foryourvocation.com.

Most of those ordained say they were encouraged to enter seminary by a priest, and about half say their friends or parents encouraged them to consider the priesthood. The role of the family, parish priest, friends, and youth ministry are vital to vocations. Along with their education and work experience, 71 percent of the Class of 2011 report they served as an altar server. This seems to indicate that the involvement of youth in the Church’s activities, especially the liturgy, has a positive impact for their choice of a vocation. What is clear is that new priests were not swayed by television or a billboard, but by experiences in the Church.

What More You Can Do to Help

Pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life daily.
Ask a priest about how he discovered his call.
For parents, talk to your children about God’s call.
Write letters to our seminarians to encourage them as they discern.
Ask your pastor what you can do in the parish to foster vocations.
Visit www.foryourvocation.com for more ideas.

Prayer for Vocations

Gracious and loving God, help the men and women of our parish to hear the call to serve in the Diocese of Manchester. Our needs are great and our people thirst for your presence. Open the hearts of man, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated, holy priests, sisters, and brothers, who will spend themselves for your people and their needs.

Bless those who are currently living their priestly or religious vocation with courage and perseverance. Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

He said to them, “Come and See.”
They came and saw where he was staying.
(John 1:39)