YOU’RE INVITED: Called By Name Vocations Campaign Invites Prayers and Submissions to Build a Culture of Vocations

(Courtesy of Vianney Vocations)

Coming soon to a parish near you is a campaign meant to promote vocations to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Denver.

The Called By Name campaign will launch at weekend Masses on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. During this weekend, priests will share their own vocation stories from the pulpit, giving the faithful insight into the joys and graces of the priesthood. They will then invite parishioners to submit the names and contact information of young men and teens in their community who might make good and holy priests, and who may be open to learning more about the priesthood. 

To be nominated, a young man does not need to have expressed a desire to become a priest but should exemplify dedication to his faith, a heart for service and the potential to be a leader in the Church.

“Nominating a young man is not to say ‘you’re going to be a priest’, but to say ‘you have the qualities to be a priest,’” said Father Jason Wallace, archdiocesan director of vocations. “We’re encouraging you to discern, whether you’re called to be a priest, called to be married, or you’re called to be a single lay person working within the Church.”

Nominated men will receive a letter of encouragement from Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, inviting them to be open to God’s plan for their lives. From there, Father Wallace has a robust plan to continue supporting these young men as they begin or continue discernment.

With the help of a team of eight priests and deacons strategically located throughout the archdiocese, the Archdiocese will help support young men and teens in their vocational discernment. These team members will lead small discernment groups, which will help men learn more about the priesthood and principles of discernment, while fostering community between men considering a vocation.

Father Wallace and his team are also planning various fun and spiritually enriching events for young men in the coming academic year. The events will range from focused retreats to more casual social opportunities for young men to interact with priests, ask questions and connect with peers who are also open to a vocation. Those nominated for Called By Name will be invited personally to these events in the coming months.

Additionally, the Archdiocesan Vocation Office has launched a new website that offers helpful resources and reading materials to discerners, parents and schools. On the website, young men can subscribe to the “Art of Discernment,” a weekly message from Father Wallace that provides discernment-focused reflections.

“The Archdiocese of Denver has been blessed under the leadership of Archbishop Aquila. We’ve seen tremendous growth in the faith and the number of Catholics. But then we also have a need when we see that growth, to serve all those people. The Archdiocese of Denver is in need of many more vocations,” Father Wallace said.

With this need for more priests in mind, Father Wallace and his team hope that the Called By Name campaign will result in the nominations of hundreds of young men. God is always the one who calls, but he often uses the voices of his people to amplify his message. In this time of great growth, and thus great need, vocations must be cultivated and celebrated.

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Nominating a young man in Called By Name is a great way to put him on a path towards greater peace and clarity about his vocation. If you know a young man (age 15-30s) who loves the Lord and may be open to learning more about the priesthood, you can submit his name and contact information at denvervocations.com/called.