Photo: St. John Vianney statue, Wikimedia Commons
St. John Vianney is known as the patron saint of parish priests, so it’s fitting that he will soon be honored as part of a local call to prayer for those considering religious life. St. Michael Parish, West End, has for several years held a day of prayer for vocations on his feast day, Aug. 4, and this year the Diocese of Trenton’s Office of Vocations is joining the parish for a daylong event.
Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan director of vocations, said the joint effort is about “inviting parishioners from throughout the Diocese to join us that day as we invoke the intercession of our great patron for a continued increase in priest vocations for Trenton.”
Father Colavito saw the opportunity to team up with the host parish after hearing about last year’s observance. “I was very excited to find out last year that St. Michael’s Parish in West End holds an annual day of prayer for vocations on the feast day of St. John Vianney,” he said, adding that he appreciated the chance for his office to work with the parish and its pastor, Father John Butler.
“While it is a parish-based event to pray for vocations, we are now welcoming anyone from the Diocese to join us at some point in the day for a Rosary, Adoration or Mass, all dedicated to vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese,” Father Colavito said.
The Day of Prayer for Vocations opens with 8 a.m. Mass and closes with Mass at 5 p.m. Throughout the day, the parish will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, recitation of the Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration at scheduled times, along with special prayers for vocations. The Angelus will be prayed at noon, and the day concludes with Benediction at 4:45 p.m. before the closing Mass.
Father Colavito noted that the Diocese’s seminarians will attend during the final hour of Adoration, Benediction and the closing Mass.
“Of course, I am always hoping and praying to meet someone at the event who wants to talk more about discernment and what it means to be a parish priest,” he said.
St. Michael Parish is located at 800 Ocean Ave., West End.