Message of his holiness pope francis for the 2023 world day of prayer for vocationsVocation: Grace and Missio
"Dear brothers and sisters, dear young people!
This is now the sixtieth time that we are celebrating the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, established by Saint Paul VI in 1964, during the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. This providential initiative seeks to assist the members of the People of God, as individuals and as communities, to respond to the call and mission that the Lord entrusts to each of us in today’s world, amid its afflictions and its hopes, its challenges and its achievements."
Click here to read the letter in full.
The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed each year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday”. The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest" (cf. Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).
As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity), secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life.
We will host a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations presided by Archbishop Gagnon on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 7:00 pm at St. Anthony of Padua Church (250 Burrin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB).
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St. Mary's Cathedral, Winnipeg - OnFriday, August 5th, our Archdiocese welcomed Oliver Omega to the Transitional Diaconate! Congratulations to Oliver and his family on this tremendous occasion! Please keep Oliver in your prayers as he completes his final year of studies and discernment toward the priesthood.
The good Lord has brought you here.
Thanks be to God for your desire to know more about Vocations in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. Whether you are here as one who would like to know more about the priesthood, religious life or would like to see whether God might be calling you to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, I’m here to help you.
I invite you to take some time and look through the information on this website or other helpful sites listed here. If you require further assistance please feel free to call or email me.
You might also want to consider coming for our discernment group meeting or a discernment retreat. Wherever the good Lord might lead you. You can use this prayer to give yourself more completely to Our Lord. Keep walking with the Lord with frequent recourse to prayer, Sacraments, and works of Mercy and you will find yourself and your vocation.
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, of all the saints and Angels may Almighty God bless you Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
- Rev. Peter Nemcek, Director of Vocations
I have been fortunate to call the Archdiocese of Winnipeg my home for the majority of my life, and I am very happy to be discerning the diocesan priesthood with this Archdiocese. I was born and raised in Brandon, MB, and was baptized in and attended St. Augustine of Canterbury Church until I moved to Kitchener/Waterloo, ON, for studies. I went to Brandon University and the University of Waterloo to study physics for many years before spending one year as a university professor at Brandon University.
During the majority of my time at university, I was discerning a call to the priesthood and was involved in discernment groups, retreats, a come and see, as well as many activities with the Knights of Columbus. Through all these experiences I felt called to enter the Seminary and have now been at St. Joseph Seminary for four years with the last year being on internship at St. John Brebeuf Parish in Winnipeg.
I look forward to continuing my journey toward God and growing in my relationship with Jesus as I continue discerning my call to the diocesan priesthood. A quick fun fact about myself: I enjoy football, both the CFL and NFL, and cheer for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Atlanta Falcons.
Hello, my name is Oliver. Looking back, I recall many events in my life that led me to where I am now. One traumatic event led me to Our Blessed Mother and I became part of the Legion of Mary. Another was when I had this interior feeling of sorrow because I had offended God after having received Holy Communion. At the time, I did not know what it meant. I later went on a pilgrimage to Rome. I knew that something had changed in me returning home because I started experiencing a deep interior desire and longing for Christ.
Winnipeg, MB - The Serra Club of Winnipeg continues to be active in its support of Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg.
In December 2021, the Serra Club Winnipeg organized a fundraiser to be held in lieu of their Annual Dinners which have been postponed due to the pandemic since 2020.
Recognizing the ongoing need to raise funds to assist in the support of vocations and provide seminary students with the financial support it was decided that a fundraising drive be held during this past Advent Season. The fundraiser was an overwhelming success raising $4,000.00 due to the generous support of past attendees of our Serra Club Winnipeg Annual Dinners and our Serra Club Winnipeg members.
On March 25, 2022, a cheque for $4,000.00 was presented to Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg for the Archdiocese of Winnipeg vocations programs by Jane Alderdice, District Governor Manitoba Serra Canada Council and Barbara Rolstone, Co-Manager Serra Club Winnipeg.
Serra Club Winnipeg continues to share the goals of Serra International promoting Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life and encouraging the spiritual and intellectual formation of lay Catholics so as to help them live their own Christian vocation to service. Serrans are dedicated Catholics who pray for the increase and perseverance of Vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life.
Serra Club Winnipeg continues to seek new members to join us to promote and continue praying for vocations. Further membership information can be obtained by email: jalderdice@mts.net. Please consider joining us as we pray for the increase and perseverance of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.
Always remembering that whatever is the need to support Priests and the Religious, we as members of Serra are ready to move ahead and follow the words of St, Junipero Serra “Always forward, never back.”
Over 30 and Considering a Vocation?
Some men mistakenly assume priesthood is not an option because they had been married, had children, lacked a college degree, or thought they were “too old” or “not good enough.” Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology has been forming men over age 30 since 1970 and is offering Zoom “Meet & Greets” in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Winnipeg for anyone that might want to learn more. Join one of our informal conversations: https://www.shsst.edu/vocation/. Contact Deacon Steve Kramer at Sacred Heart for more information: skramer@shsst.edu or (414) 858-4767.
Rev. Peter Nemcek
Director of Vocations
vocations@archwinnipeg.ca
Tel: (204) 339-3264
Office of Vocations
1495 Pembina Highway
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2C6