Pope Benedict XVI gives a guideline to determine ''True Prayer''

''The secret of a vocation,'' the Holy Father told youth in July, ''lies in the capacity and in the joy of distinguishing [God's] voice, of listening to and following his voice. But to do this, it is necessary to accustom our heart to recognize the Lord, to hear Him like a person who is near me and who loves me.''

Moments of ''interior silence in the day-to-day routine'' are essential, he said. But once one has learned to hear this voice and to generously follow it, ''one fears nothing, he or she knows and feels that God is with him or her, and that He is a Friend, Father, and Brother.''

Thus, ''the secret of a vocation lies in the relationship with God, in prayer that grows precisely in interior silence, . . . more

An 18-foot marble statue of a saint dedicated to praying for vocations was blessed recently by Benedict XVI.

The image of St. Annibale Maria di Francia (1851-1927) was unveiled in one of the exterior niches of St. Peter's Basilica. He is the founder of the Rogationist Fathers, the Daughters of Divine Zeal, and the Anthonian Orphanages.

Before blessing the statue, the Pope recited a prayer that evoked the vocational apostolate, and care of orphans and the poor, essential features of the spirituality and activity of the Sicilian priest.

In particular, the Holy Father invoked the Lord so that He will send to his harvest ''worthy laborers of the Gospel,'' and so that the image of the saint, canonized in 2004, will inspire in those who contemplate it ''his same spirit of charity . . . more

''A Vocation Story,'' a 14-minute film about a young woman coming to understand her vocation despite her fears of missing the romantic parts of life is now available to parish youth ministers and pastors.

It is a compelling story, produced locally, from the eyes of the young woman who is fully aware of the attractions of her culture and the beauty of married and family life. Nevertheless, she senses that the Lord may have another plan for her, and she doesn't want to miss it.

For copies of this film, contact: vocationmovie@gmail.com. . . . more

Danielle Rose's passion and dedication to the church radiates through this stirring album that encourages us to follow our vocational calling. Her authenticity is truly unlike any other artist to come before or after her. 100% of the royalties from sales of this CD will be directed to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Fr. David Toups of the USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
said, ''She represents the best of the ''JP II generation'' who heard him proclaim over and again, ''Be not afraid!'' From Abraham to Mary to the disciple of today, she angelically sings of this call. These songs will inspire all discerning God's call in their lives. May her consoling voice and lyrics encourage listeners to say a deeper ''yes'' to the Lord.''

For . . . more

From The Catholic Spirit
By Pat Norby
December 15, 2009

Just as all roads lead to home, all conversations with Bishop Paul Sirba’s family lead to the modest Bloo­­ming­ton home where his parents, Helen and the late Nor­bert Sirba, nurtured his vocation.

Helen Sirba has good memories of her son, Bishop Paul Sirba, both as a child and as a supportive adult. At right is Bishop Sirba’s sister, Cathy Kelly. - Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit Bishop Sirba was ordained bishop of the Diocese of Duluth Dec. 14.

Helen, 85, said her son Paul “was always easy to take care of . . . although he probably didn’t get as much attention” as the other children. He was the fourth child born in five and a half years, after the Sirbas waited nine years to conceive, she said.

Father . . . more

During their meeting in Baltimore, members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops elected Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, originally from the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. Archbishop Carlson will spend the next year working with the current chairman, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, O.F.M. , Archbishop of Boston. “I’m delighted to be elected. I look forward to finding out what the committee has done already and working with Cardinal O’Malley to continue the good work,” said Archbishop Robert J. Carlson. “As the Archbishop of St. Louis, this position is a wonderful opportunity for me to work more closely with the Religious Orders in the St. Louis area.”

The Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations . . . more

Religious Brothers have a unique mission in the Church, complementing the role of priests, the laity and Religious Sisters. Without the valuable contributions of the Religious Brotherhood, the Church suffers and God's people are deprived of the compassion and love that the Brothers bring to those in need.

Through a generous Our Sunday Visitor grant, the Institute on Religious Life has created and launched a new Web site, ReligiousBrotherhood.com. It's goal is to promote vocations to the Religious Brotherhood, proclaim to the Catholic laity the value and charism of the Religious Brotherhood, and provide a Web site that speaks for all Brothers who are authentically living out the evangelical counsels of the Church.

Go to ReligiousBrotherhood.com to see this new Web site.

(from . . . more

A new Vatican Web site, www.pope2you.net, is offering viewers a link to a new application on the social networking site, Facebook. Titled ''The Pope Meets You on Facebook,'' it lets people send and receive ''virtual postcards'' of Pope Benedict, along with inspiring text from the Holy Father's various speeches and messages.

The Pope2You site also links viewers to a new way for people to receive news about the Vatican and the pope through thier iPhones or iPod touch portable music players.

Vatican officials are waiting for user feedback to see whether the site will become permanent. from Catholic News Service

. . . more

SYDNEY, Australia: Pope Benedict XVI says the next Roman Catholic youth festival will he held in Spain in 2011 and has indicated that he will attend.

Benedict made the announcement Sunday at the final Mass of the current edition of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.

The 81-year-old pontiff said the next World Youth Day would take place in the Spanish capital of Madrid.

''I look forward to seeing you again in three years' time,'' he said.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/20/asia/AS-Australia-Pope-World-Youth-Day.php
Associated Press 7/20/2008 . . . more