Prot. N. (1) 832/2025
May 1, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On the fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, the universal Church invites us to celebrate the Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is a day on which we lift our prayers together with confidence and hope to the Lord, that He may send “laborers into His harvest” (Lk 10:2), and awaken in the hearts of young men and women the desire to follow Him closely, on the path of priestly or religious consecration.
Our most important role in this world is to spread the culture of vocation. Vocation is a radical decision that turns life upside down and allows those who want to follow this vocation to live their life as God intended. Vocation is the fruit prayer in a believing community, it comes from a Christian family, it is the result of good pastoral work, and of a true example. It grows by listening to the attractive voice of God. So let us gather on this day to pray for vocations in our Patriarchate, as we unite with the whole universal Church and pray that God will give us “shepherds according to his heart” (cf. Jer 3:15).
Therefore, I encourage all of you: Bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and lay believers, to make this day a living opportunity for prayer, reflection, and true witness that God is still calling in this noisy world. I ask you to give this special importance, to commemorate this day in your parishes and activities, and to make this day an opportunity to encourage the faithful to hear God's call. You may also take advantage of the liturgical and pastoral suggestions sent by the Vocations Office to commemorate this day.
Yes, the Lord is still calling! Our Church in this Holy Land is still fertile with vocations, but it needs to be accompanied, listened to, encouraged, and believed.
Let us together put these intentions at the center of our prayers, and ask the Lord of the harvest to send our sons and daughters to labor in his field, and together build his kingdom on earth.
With my blessing,
