Christian life is about loving and serving as Jesus taught and did. Those called to serve God and the Christian community as bishops, priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers have Christ's invitation to love God's people with an unfailing "fatherly" love, rooted in their own dedication to the Lord and His gospel.
St. Jude wishes to provide support to parishioners discerning a religious or lay vocational call for their lives. Our parish priest and lay ecclesial staff members are always available to meet with parishioners to help guide them in their discernment process. Please call our Pastor at the Parish Center at 786-4371 for more information and discussion. Those considering entering the priesthood or a religious vocation, please contact the Archdiocesan Vocation Office at 236-1490.
Click here to connect to the St. Jude Vocations Facebook page. There you will find prayers and other information concerning religious vocations and events.
Of course we want our children to live a joy-filled life. God created them with a specific Vocation in life, whether that is a Vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life, Marriage or to live as a single person. It is living that Vocation that they will live holy and joy filled lives. And as parents, isn’t this our greatest desire for our children? Below are some questions that I found in an article by Fr. Michael Himes, a theology professor at Boston College. Himes suggested that when one is discerning a state in life, they should answer the questions:
1. Will this vocation invoke joy in my life?
2. Does this vocation tap into my talents?
3. Is there a need for this vocation? In other words, will society benefit if I choose this vocation?
While your child may be too young to know the answers to these questions, it is never too early to encourage them to consider a Vocation in the Church. Below are some resources you can share with your family to begin to plant the seed for a Vocation to religious life.
Please pray for Vocations!
Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You. Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future.
Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ's Mission of love and justice. Bless the Church of St. Jude Catholic Church by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve Your people as Sisters, Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers. Inspire us to know You better and open our hearts to hear Your call. We ask this through our Lord.
Pray for all Religious Orders, Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians serving the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of Thy servants.
Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever
increase in the course of their life. In their loneliness, comfort them. In their
sorrows, strengthen them. In their frustrations, point out to them that it is
through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by
the Church; they are needed by souls; they are needed for the work of
redemption. Amen.
Links
The Archdiocese web site below offers updated information regarding all religious communities. If you are discerning a religious life, you should receive the sacraments, pray daily, meet with a spiritual director, and visit different communities. Vocations events and "Come and See Weekends" can also be found on the Archdiocese website at: http://www.archindy.org/heargodscall/. For a complete listing of all religious women and men orders, visit the Archdiocese website for General Statistics at: http://www.archindy.org/stats/index.html
One of the many wonderful video’s available on the Internet is from one of the priests of the Archdiocese, Father Dan Atkins, former associate at St. Jude. Please view: A Desire Of My Heart: http://vimeo.com/43192430
Women Religious Orders serving in the ArchIndy: http://www.archindy.org/directory/women-religious.html
Men Religious Orders serving in the ArchIndy: http://www.archindy.org/directory/men-religious.html
Priests of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis link: http://www.archindy.org/staff/priests/index.html
Deacons of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis link: http://www.archindy.org/staff/deacon/index.html
Seminarians of the ArchIndy: http://www.archindy.org/heargodscall/seminarians.html
Vocations Discernment link: www.diocesanpriest.com
Video of Sister Tracey Horan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZpkc-fqUY0
Article about Sister Susan Reuber: https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2019/11-01/s-separated.html