World Day of Prayer for Vocations (also know as Good Shepherd Sunday) is this weekend, 21 April.

We pray for our parish priests who have answered the call to dedicating their lives to serving God and the people of his Church. We pray for the Religious Men and Women who serve God both at home and abroad.

Please also keep in your prayers seminarians from the Archdiocese:

  • Deacon Peter Shankland and Deacon Paul Henderson (Beda College, Rome). They are set to be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday 29 June at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.
  • Gerard Holden and Matthew McCafferty (Scots College, Rome).

A special collection for the Ecclesiastical Students' Fund will take place at Masses this weekend. You can donate online at bit.ly/studentscollection

  • The next Mass to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Archdiocese is on Monday 22 April at Our Lady & St Andrew, 63 Stirling Street, Galashiels, TD1 1BS at 6:00pm.
  • Our next group meeting for women interested in the Religious Life is on Sunday 21 April at St Columba's, Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh at 4pm. To register please email Sister Mirjam Hugens FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk

Pope Francis' message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations can be read here.

He calls on everyone to: “Let Jesus draw you to himself; bring him your important questions; let him challenge you by his presence; More than anyone else, Jesus respects our freedom.”

The day is dedicated in a particular way to imploring from the Father the gift of holy vocations for the building up of his Kingdom: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Lk 10:2)

If you want to find out more about the priesthood or religious life, speak to your parish priest or contact Fr Andrew Garden at vocations@staned.org.uk (0131 663 4286) or Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk (0131 623 8902).