The European Vocations Service, (EVS), part of the Conference of Bishops of Europe, met in Rome from the 4^th – 7^th June. We discussed how best to implement the outcomes of the recent synod on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment, and were privileged to meet Pope Francis on the penultimate day.

Pope Francis welcomed us all warmly and gave us his prepared speech… and proceeded to address us with an impromptu message. Pope Francis believes that the Holy Spirit still calls people to lives of special consecration, and we should courageously cast out the nets, but always in the context of the wider Christian calling. You can read the full message (both impromptu and prepared) here.

Sister Elaine Penrice has been appointed as Director of the National Office of Vocation. Bishop Terence Drainey, Chair of the Management Board of the National Office for Vocation, said he was delighted to be able to announce the appointment.

A residential programme building on ‘seeking wholeness’ is taking place for Leaders, Leadership Teams, Formators,  Community and Pastoral Leaders from 18th September – 3rd October at the Cold Ash Centre of Franciscan Spirituality in Thatcham. For more details please click here.

This Sunday (12th May) is the Day of Prayer for Vocations. This day flows from the broader culture of vocation, and is when the universal Church asks the Lord to send more labourers to the harvest.

Please visit our Vocations Sunday Page to view resources that can be used in your parish, school or community.

To read Pope Francis’s message for Vocations Sunday please click here.

Sister Katrina Alton will celebrate her profession of final vows as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP) at Sacred Heart Church in Carlton, Nottingham on Saturday, 4 May 2019. The ceremony will be streamed live at 2.45pm on the CSJP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sistersstjosephofpeace/

This is the first final profession for these sisters in the UK in over 30 Years, and the first live stream of final vows. Why not tune in to the ceremony, and keep Sister Katrina in your prayers as she makes this special commitment to dedicate the rest of her life in service to God and the Church.

By Sr Elaine Penrice (NOV Religious Life Promoter)

Members of religious congregations from all over the UK came together in March for a conference in Liverpool which was inspired by Pope Francis and the book of an interview with him, “God is Young.”

Some one hundred participants came from Scotland, Ireland and England & Wales in a collaborative gathering,  with the conference being the first time the offices of vocation in the respective countries had organised such an event. It was a great success!