Photos from the June "Quo Vadis?" Gathering

“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send our labourers into his harvest,” was part of Jesus’ message on Sunday (Luke 10:2). Yesterday’s weekday Mass had the same quotation, but this time from Matthew’s gospel (9:37).

Both texts are found in mission-sending addresses give by Our Lord: to the seventy-two in Luke (symbol of the universal mission to the nations of the world) and in Matthew’s narrative, just before he calls the Twelve and sends them to evangelize.

Our Lord indicates that the mission leads to the Lord’s harvest but that we should ask Him for fellow-labourers. Hence, the reason for my reiteration to the Archdiocese that we need to continue to pray fervently our Prayer for Priestly Vocations and to do all we can to foster a culture of vocations in which each disciple will ask the Lord, “what would you have me do?”

Father Tim Mccauley assists me in this task of calling men and women to open themselves to a call from the Lord to serve Him in the priesthood, the sisterhood, the brotherhood. To foster priestly calls, Father Tim has been scheduling “Quo vadis?” [literally “where are you going?”] sessions each third Friday of the month. Here are some photos from the last meeting at which Father Matthew Goddard FSSP shared his vocational discernment.

Men who feel God is calling them to priestly service in the Archdiocese of Ottawa may contact him at tmccauley@archottawa.ca or by phone at (613) 738-5025.


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PRAYER FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS

Lord God, in every generation you have provided shepherds after your own heart and spiritual fathers for the family of the Church. Hear us in our day as we beg you: “Do not leave us orphans! Send us the Holy Spirit!”

Stir up in the hearts of those whom you have chosen to be priests an awareness of your call and the courage to say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

By your Spirit, mould them in the heart of Mary to be the image of your Son, faithful stewards of your grace. Shape them into zealous apostles, who will preach the Gospel with boldness, celebrate the Eucharist with reverence and be living signs of your love for all people.

We ask You this through Christ our Lord. Amen.



PRIÈRE POUR LES VOCATIONS PRESBYTÉRALES

Seigneur Dieu, à chaque époque, tu nous as donné des pasteurs selon ton cœur et des pères spirituels pour la famille de l’Église. Entends aujourd’hui notre prière, alors que nous nous tournons vers toi. « Ne nous laisse pas orphelins! Envoie-nous ton Esprit saint! »

Suscite dans le cœur de ceux que tu as choisis pour être prêtre l’ouverture à ton appel et le courage d’y répondre généreusement en disant : « Que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole. »

Par ton Esprit, modèle-les dans le Cœur de Marie afin qu’ils soient à l’image de ton Fils, fidèles porteurs de ta grâce. Transforme-les en apôtres dévoués pour qu’ils puissent annoncer ton Évangile avec audace, célébrer l’Eucharistie dans un profond respect pour devenir des signes vivants de ton Amour pour toute personne.

Nous te le demandons par Ton Fils Jésus, notre Seigneur. Amen.