We were delighted to welcome the Irish Vocations Monstrance to the Dioceses of Clonfert and Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. Blessed by Pope Leo XIV, it came among us as an invitation to gather before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and to pray earnestly for vocations to the priesthood.
In his Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations that year, Pope Leo XIV spoke beautifully of the call of Christ: “Dear young people, listen to this voice! Listen to the voice of the Lord who invites you to a full and fruitful life.” He reminded us that every vocation began in friendship with the Lord and grew through prayer, the Word of God, the Eucharist and the life of the Church. In that friendship with Christ, a person gradually discovered how the Lord was asking him or her to give their life in love and service.
The Holy Father had also reminded the Church that “God continues to call, and he remains faithful to his promises.” That conviction gave us great hope as we welcomed the Vocations Monstrance. We prayed that those days of Eucharistic adoration would help young men hear the voice of Christ more clearly, grow in friendship with him, and find the courage and generosity to answer his call to priesthood.
Monday, 24 August
Our Lady & St Michael’s, Ennistymon
7.00pm – 8.00pm
Tuesday, 25 August
Our Lady of Clonfert, Clonfert
7.30pm – 8.30pm
Wednesday, 26 August
St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea
11.30am – 12.30pm
Thursday, 27 August
St Oliver Plunkett, Renmore
10.00am – 9.00pm
Friday, 28 August
St Colman’s, Gort
10.00am – 6.00pm
Saturday, 29 August
Cill Éinne, An Spidéal
10.00am – 11.00am
Sunday, 30 August
Cill Éinne, An Spidéal
5.00pm – 6.00pm
Monday, 31 August
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway
8.00pm – 9.00pm
Tuesday, 1 September
Assumption & St James, Claregalway
10.00am – 11.00am
We warmly encouraged people throughout our parishes to come and spend time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, praying that the Lord of the harvest would send labourers into his harvest. Our hope was that our prayer would help create a culture in which the call to priesthood could be heard, welcomed and answered with faith.