Did you know that April 22, 2018 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations (WDPV)?

For Catholics, the purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (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 consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to Religious Life in all its forms (women and men, contemplative and apostolic), to Societies of Apostolic Life, to Secular Institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of “mission ad gentes.”

Coloring doodle for World Day of Prayer for Vocations by Chela Gonzalez, OP, Grand Rapids Dominican Sister

Coloring doodle for World Day of Prayer for Vocations by Chela Gonzalez, OP, Grand Rapids Dominican Sister

Designing A Prayer Doodle

Because I am an artist, Sister Debbie Marie Borneman, SS.C.M, from the National Religious Vocations Conference, asked me to create a coloring doodle for World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

These coloring pages can be used with all ages who want to pray through art. I used the rosary as the focus in the design highlighting the Mystery of the Rosary. The lower left swirl is for the Apostles Creed while the lower right swirl is for the Hail, Holy Queen. Each of the diamonds (two at the top and three at the bottom) are for the Lord’s Prayer, while each row of circles represents five Hail Mary prayers. The Glory Be prayer is prayed after praying ten Hail Mary prayers, and the artist can color in the design around the circles.

This design is meant to intentionally bring one into prayer while coloring. People can prayerfully name those who are discerning vocations, those who have already committed to single, ordained or vowed life, as well as ask for direction to answer God’s continuous call to holiness.

If you want a copy of the doodle to color prayerfully, download at Vocation Doodle with April 22   Vocation Doodle Undated

A Vocation Prayer For You & To Share

Holy Spirit, stir within us the passion to promote vocations to the consecrated life, societies of apostolic life, diocesan priesthood, and permanent diaconate. Inspire us daily to respond to Your call with boundless compassion, abundant generosity, and radical availability. Help us to remember our own Baptismal call to rouse us to invite the next generation to hear and respond to Your call. Inspire parents, families, and lay ecclesial ministers to begin a conversation with young Catholics to consider a how they will live lives of holiness and sacred service. Nudge inquirers and motivate discerners to learn more about monastic life, apostolic life, missionaries, cloistered contemplative life, and evangelical Franciscan life. Ignite our Church with the confident humility that there is an urgent need for religious sisters, brothers, deacons, and priests to live in solidarity with those who are poor, neglected, and marginalized. Disrupt our comfortable lives and complacent attitudes with new ideas to respond courageously and creativity with a daily ‘YES!’ Amen.

More Vocation Prayer Resources