“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9 38; Lk 10 2).

In this year dedicated to St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, Pope Francis chose the theme: Saint Joseph: The Dream of Vocation.

Joseph “was not famous or even noteworthy: the Gospels do not report even a single word of his. Still, through his ordinary life, he accomplished something extraordinary in the eyes of God.”

Saint Joseph suggests to us three key words for each individual’s vocation.

Dream: “Everyone dreams of finding fulfillment in life” “Saint Joseph has much to tell us in this regard, because, through the dreams that God inspired in him, he made of his life a gift.”

“The Gospels tell us of four dreams (cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). They were calls from God, but they were not easy to accept.”

Service: “The Gospels show how Joseph lived entirely for others and never for himself.”

Fidelity: “Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is the fruit of mature sacrifice.”

“A vocation – like life itself – matures only through daily fidelity.”

Pope Francis continues, “God does not overwhelm us with dazzling visions but quietly speaks in the depths of our heart, drawing near to us and speaking to us through our thoughts and feelings. In this way, as he did with Saint Joseph, he sets before us profound and unexpected horizons.”

“I pray that you will experience this same joy, dear brothers and sisters who have generously made God the dream of your lives, serving him in your brothers and sisters through fidelity that is a powerful testimony in an age of ephemeral choices and emotions that bring no lasting joy. May Saint Joseph, protector of vocations, accompany you with his fatherly heart!”

Let us pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life and societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.

All quotes are from the MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 2021 WORLD DAY OF VOCATIONS

                                                                                                   Submitted by Sr. Janice Fournier, p.m.