Vocations in Parish

The days around Vocations Sunday are always busy for a vocations director.

At the weekend I had a display stand at St Michael's Church in Dun Laoghaire (see left).

The parish invites local religious congregations to highlight their presence in the parish at this time each year.

Last week I was in Togher parish where there was a great gathering to provide vocations resource materials to parish representatives from across the diocese. There was a great turn out and a great buzz.

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If you're interested in a religious vocation, feel free to give me a shout at prescall@eircom.net

To England....

Last month I was in England. I got in and out before the ash crisis!

Thanks a million to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome. It was very encouraging.

Why was I there? To promote vocations of course!

The first step in promoting vocations is to increase awareness of what the brother's vocation is all about. So I spoke at a lot of Masses in Reading and in Dartfordshire.

Thanks to Fr Joseph Awoh of St Joseph's Church in Reading and to Fr John Nelson and Fr Richard Maniak at The English Martyrs. Thanks too to Fr William Scanlan of St Anselm's Church in Dartford.

There were well over 1,000 people at the masses.

I also spoke to about 100 sixth form students at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School.

I hope to be back in England for the Invocation vocations event in Birmingham in July and for the visit of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict in September.

Planning a Vigil

The things I do for the Church!

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I was in Glendalough in County Wicklow this week to help plan a Prayer Vigil for the eve of Vocations Sunday. The Vigil will take place on Saturday 24th April 2010. It starts at 6pm at the Information Centre in Glendalough.

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Other Vigils are taking place at 5pm in Clonmacnois in County Offaly, and 6pm at St Brigid's Well in Kildare (beside the Japanese Gardens Car Park). They are all being co-ordinated by Vocations Ireland.

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It's a chance to pray for vocations to religious life and also to pray for and with religious.

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I'll be there!

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Pictured Above: Me with Sr Peggy and Sr Liz.

A Happy Easter...

Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter Sunday are always a tonic for my faith. Maybe it's because for a few intense days our ordinary cares and concerns take a back seat and we focus on Christ.


I've been attending the ceremonies here at St Joseph's Parish in Glasthule in Dublin. I'm involved in directing the youth choir so this is a busy time of the year on that front.

I always notice that men interested in religious life seem to reflect more deeply on it at this time of year.


So if you feel drawn to religious brotherhood, why not make an Easter Resolution to take about it and get some more information.


Feel free to give me a shout at prescall@eircom.net

In the meantime, a Happy Easter to all of you!