St. Canice’s Catholic Parish in Kilkenny will host this year’s Vocations Sunday Televised Mass, broadcast live at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 26th.
The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Phonsie Cullinan, Chair of the Council for Vocations, and he will be assisted by Fr. Willie Purcell, National Vocations Coordinator and Parish Priest of St. Canice’s Parish.
Seminarians from St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, religious from the Diocese of Ossory, and many individuals involved in vocations promotion will join the celebration, together with the parish community of St. Canice’s and the wider diocesan family.
Vocations Sunday is an annual moment of prayer and encouragement for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. This year’s televised celebration offers the faithful across the country an opportunity to participate from home and unite in prayer for those discerning a call to serve the Church.
Speaking to the Kilkenny Observer, Bishop Ger Nash said that St. Canice’s Parish is honoured to welcome the national broadcast and to support the ongoing mission of fostering and promoting vocations.
“It’s a great privilege as Apostolic Administrator to welcome the Mass for Vocations Sunday here to St Canice’s Church in the historic heart of Kilkenny City. It is also a privilege to welcome all you who will join the Parish of St Canice’s from your own homes and who will pray along with us courtesy of RTE and Scratch films”, said Bishop Nash. The Bishop continued: “St. Canice’s is a beautiful church and I hope that as you all, parishioners and TV viewers lift your hearts to God in praise, that you will be enriched by the experience”.
Bishop Ger said that they were praying for vocations on this Good Shepherd Sunday and that it is good to be aware that all vocations are interlinked, based on our common Baptism.
So the first prayer is that every person will recognise their own calling, their own vocation and that from a living, praying Christian Community, men and women will chose the path of committing their whole lives to Christ and to the service of Christ’s people. Concluding his chat with The Observer Bishop Ger said “Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God and in this Vocation Sunday’s prayers, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill the heart and minds of people in our country, that they may respond generously to what the Spirit asks of them.
