We desire the Diocese of Grand Island to 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 priesthood and religious life. We do this by igniting a culture of vocations in the clergy, religious, and lay faithful through:

Prayer, Discernment (formation) and Awareness (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 the Diocese to seek the Lord through prayer, inviting young people to encounter God in a meaningful way and to actively pray for vocations. 

“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.

  • Create or provide resources that facilitate and encourage personal and communal prayer.

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 & Formation

Men and Women are empowered to discover their call from God through encounter, formation and accompaniment, leading to candidates for Seminary or Religious formation.

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

KEY INITIATIVES:

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

  • Provide online and physical resources for school and parishes

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

  • Organize an annual vocation trip to convents, monastery, seminaries and religious communities for students in the Diocese.  

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

CULTURE OF VOCATIONAL AWARENESS & INVITATION

Young people experience a contagious and inspiring culture of vocation in the Diocese, through the clergy, religious and laity. The promotion of vocation is not just about branding and reminders but an active call to holiness and a deeper relationship with Christ.       

KEY INITIATIVES:

  • Build an ongoing relationship with Catholic schools, parishes and the faithful through collaborative projects and initiatives.

  •  A ministry of presence that seeks to build relationships with the school community at all catholic high schools.

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

  • Coordinate or co-sponsor the Diocesan family retreats

  • 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