The Diocese of Grand Island become a place where the model and encouragement of vocations is a regular occurrence through our religious and lay faithful. We envision our young people being given every opportunity to ask where God may be calling them because of an encounter with Jesus Christ and through faithful Catholics. We envision every Catholic home as a foundation for vocational discernment, supported by Catholic schools and religious education programs.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Diocese of Grand Island Office for Vocations exists to encourage and inspire young people to consider the priesthood and religious life. We do this by igniting a culture of vocations in the clergy, religious, and lay faithful through the following pillars. 

PRAYER - EDUCATION - DISCERNMENT - INVITATION

strategic plan (2025-2030)

a culture of prayer

Supporting parishes and schools in their effort to create a space and environment for an encounter with God and His calling. Encouraging every member of the body of Christ to seek the Lord through prayer and asking Him to inspire young people to embrace their true vocation. 

“Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life, there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community. Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit”.                                                                                                        - Pope Francis

KEY INITIATIVES:

  • Diocesan Vocation Prayer to be prayed at every Mass

  • Parish Holy Hour for Vocations. There is an undeniable link between Eucharistic Adoration and a thriving vocations culture!

  • 9 Weeks Vocations Novena Leading up to Vocations Awareness Week.

Culture of Vocational Education

Catholic schools and Parish Religious Education should be fertile soil for vocations! We want to help young people understand each vocation by providing programs and opportunities that educate them in the understanding of Christian vocation in the life of the Church. 

KEY INITIATIVES:

  • Vocation Lessons Curriculum - See login details here.

  • Pray for our Seminarians Day - January 31st

  • Impactful discernment resources for kids, teens, and young adults

  • Implementing discernment/Bible study groups in Diocesan High Schools

  • Organizing an annual trip to the seminary and convent for our Junior High students

Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”– Mark 4:8-9

A Culture of Diligent Discernment

Supporting and accompany young people to actively listen to the Lord’s call and discern their vocation through dilligence, courage and opportunities to test their calling.

KEY INITIATIVES:

  • Provide discernment retreats for young men and women aged 16-30 through the year.

  • Accompany an active group of discerners that engage with at least 10-15 people annually.

  • Organize the annual Andrew and Miriam dinners at the Newman Center

  • Organize seminary trips to Conception Seminary,

    St Gregory the Great, Seward and St John Vianney, Denver.

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” – Romans 12:1-2

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

– Ephesians 4:1-6

A Culture of Inspiring Priest, Deacons, Religious and Lay faithful in the diocese

Inviting others to promote vocations and inviting young people to consider their vocation.

KEY INITIATIVES:

  • Encouraging/Reminding the parish community to celebrate vocations throughout the year.

  • Building relationships with pastors with clear communication of vision and goals of the vocations office.

  • Support current vocation teams, co-ordinators and Serra clubs.

  • Distribute resources for Vocation Days

    Day of Prayer for Vocations (4th Sunday of Easter), Consecrated Life (February 2), World Marriage Week (February 7- 14), Santification of Priests (Feast of the Sacred Heart), Priesthood Sunday (Last Sunday in September), Day of Prayer for Deacons (August 10), National Vocations Awareness Week (1st Sunday-Saturday in November)

 

project 2030

PROJECT 2030 is a goal of the Vocation Office to increase the number of seminarians in the Diocese. The aim is to have 20 men in formation by 2030. Through the strategic plan, we want to support our pastors, lay faithful, and educators in identifying, accompanying, and recommending young men to the seminary from 2025 to 2030. 

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT OUR CURRENT SEMINARIANS