From Father Matthew Keller, New Vocations Director

When one of my best friends was named to be the vocations director in his diocese, I began to write down every idea that I had which I thought might help promote vocations to the priesthood. I came up with 100 of them. I don’t know if the ideas themselves turned out to be very helpful or not, but this exercise sure helped me to begin thinking, praying and participating in the vocations effort (and examining my conscience!). It seems to me that our task has at least two major aspects. The first is a response to Jesus’ command to “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.” (Mt. 9:38). Simply put, we have to pray. Here’s one of the prayers that the Church gives us in the Mass for priestly vocations. “Lord, accept our prayers and gifts. Give the Church more priests and keep them faithful in their love and service. Grant this in the name of Jesus the Lord.” I believe that every Catholic can and should pray this prayer or something like it regularly out of a spirit of obedience to Christ and love for the Church. Perhaps you can ask your parish priest to offer a Mass for the intention of an increase in priestly vocations (idea #97).
The second aspect of the effort is to help the men who are being called to hear God’s voice, respond to it and persevere in it. This means helping to create an “atmosphere” where the priesthood is presented as a desirable possibility for young Catholic men by the parents at home, by teachers at CCD and in Catholic schools, and by priests at Mass.
I am hoping to hear from anyone who has ideas and suggestions that they think will help more men to hear the call to be worthy ministers for His altars, and gentle but ardent servants of the gospel. (cf. the Mass for priestly vocations).
Contact information: Fr. Matthew Keller P.O. box 1338 Gallup, NM 87305 (505) 863-4406 email- gallupvocationsoffice@gmail.com