The Problem:
There is a lack of action and the absence of coordination between the groups and programs that already exist in your diocese.
The Solution:
Get Started today! As a leader of your diocese it all starts with you. The Prayers, Time, Talent and Treasure already exists in your diocese. When you make the commitment to solve the shortage of vocations the presbyterate and lay faithful will respond and the men will come forward.
The shortage of men will not be solved overnight but, it will never be solved if you do not make the commitment and take action. We know there are as many men called today as in the past. And with a well planned coordinated effort these men will come forward to discern their call.
Invite the Call.
Below is a partial listing of the programs that Labadie Communications can help to establish, enhance or coordinate to develop a culture of vocations in your diocese.
1. Office of Vocations
- Vocation Director Profile, Training & Coaching
- Establishing an Office of Vocations (strategic plan)
- Hiring a full-time assistant
- Develop and implement ongoing programs fordiscernment (camps, dinners, come & see, discernment weekends etc.)
- On-going communications to diocese (website, newsletter, mailing, media etc.)
- Self-Funding programs
2. Seminarian Support
- Diocesan wide prayer for seminarians
- Adopt-A-Seminarian Program/Seminarian Day
- Seminarian Education Appeal
- E-Communications - Email, Interactive Social Networking, etc.
- Seminary Visits
- Letter/Card/Phone support programs
- Motivational speakers
3. Activate The Laity
- Daily Vocations Prayer and Diocesan Day of Adoration
- Parish Vocation Committees (PVC)
- Office of Vocations on-going communications (Website, Newsletter, E-mail, Social Networking)
- Coordinated Diocesan Media Campaigns (TV, Radio, Catholic Radio Programming, Catholic Newspaper, Mailings, E-mail)
- Family oriented programs (aimed at keeping families interacting both spiritually and physically)
- Catholic school vocation awareness programs for parents, teachers and students
- Vocation retreats (Single, Married and Religious life)
- Parishes active in praying for and promoting priestly vocations weekly
- Diocesan sponsored speakers and other motivational gatherings
4. Activate the Presbyterate
- Daily prayer for vocations
- Interaction with seminarians (Dinners, Retreats, Seminary Visits, On-going Communication etc.)
- Training and coaching
- Educational and motivational seminars and speakers
- Seminarian involvement in parishes
5. Coordinate Volunteer Organizations
- Knights of Columbus
- Serra
- FOCUS
- College Campus Ministries
Your diocese is most likely doing some or most of the programs listed above. The challenge is establishing the beneficial programs in your diocese and then coordinating them with your existing programs to work in harmony with each other so that your diocese can truly “Develop A Culture Of Vocations.” This seems simple enough but the fact is that the dioceses with low numbers of priestly vocations either do not have the proper programs in place and/or the programs they have in place are not working together in a coordinated effort to truly increase priestly vocations.
At Labadie Communications, we have made it our full-time ministry to work with dioceses to not only get the programs you have working re-energized but to develop and put in place the programs you do not have and then organize and coordinate those programs so that they work together to accomplish the dioceses goal of increasing priestly vocations for your diocese.
