Diocese of St. Petersburg Prayer for Vocations
by Pope John Paul II

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, bless all our parishes with numerous priests, deacons, men and women in religious life, consecrated laity and missionaries, according to the needs of the entire world, which you love and wish to save.

Assist our pastors and all who live a consecrated life. Guide the steps of those who have responded generously to your call and are preparing to receive Holy Orders or to profess vows.

Look with love on young people and call them to follow you. Help them to understand that in you alone can they attain complete fulfillment.

To this end we call on the powerful intercession of Mary, mother and model of all vocations. We beseech you to sustain our faith that the Father will grant what you command us to ask. Amen.

Diocese of St. Petersburg Children's Prayer for Vocations

Loving Father,
I know you love me and have great plans for me.
Help me to walk in your love every day.
Show me and all your people your way and help us to listen to you.
I pray for all those you are calling to be priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers.
May they respond in love to your call.
Please make my heart always ready to do what you want.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Vocation Trust Prayer

Here I am Lord, standing at the crossroads of my life,
The time has come for me to choose the road that leads to you.
I hesitate for fear of what lies ahead of me,
For I am much afraid of the unknown.
Take my hand in Yours and walk with me, for the road is long,
And there are no short cuts.
I place myself into your hands.
You know the way, You are the way. Amen.

Intercessory Vocation Prayer of St. Jude

God of mercy, through the intercession of St. Jude, we pray to you to bless our parishes with numerous vocations to the religious life. We ask you to bless us with saintly men and women who seek to follow Jesus Christ more perfectly in poverty, chastity and obedience. We ask you to bless and protect all religious brothers and sisters vowed to your service and to increase their holiness and apostolic zeal, that through their prayers and good works the Kingdom of Christ might continue to grow in our homes, in our parish and in our world.

Almighty Father, through the intercession of St. Jude, we pray you to raise up from within our parishes many holy priests and deacons to proclaim your holy gospel and to celebrate your Sacred Mysteries. We ask you to bless and protect our Holy Father and all bishops, priests, and deacons, whom you have chosen as shepherds of your flock and anointed with your Holy Spirit. We ask you to keep them strong in faith, full of hope and overflowing with charity, that through their life and ministry the Church born from Christ's wounded side might continue to grow in grace and holiness.

Vocation Prayer of Generosity

God, our Father,
in Baptism You called us by name, making us members of Your People, the Church. We praise and thank You for Your gifts. Father, we ask You that Your Spirit strengthen us to live in love and service to others after the example of Your Son Jesus. Father, look upon Your Church with love and bless Your people with the servants She needs.

Choose from our parishes, from our homes, from our schools and colleges, an abundant harvest of dedicated disciples for service in Your Church: sisters, brothers, deacons, priests, missionaries. We pray that those whom You call may never lose awareness of the dignity and need of their vocation.

Continue to bless and strengthen those who have already responded to Your call.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Vocation Prayer for Our Lady's Intercession

O Virgin Mary,
Mother of the Church,
help all those called by
your Son, Jesus,
to say a joyful YES,
as you did in the Annunciation.
Amen.

Family Vocation Prayer

Loving God, each member of our family is a special gift from You.

You have given each of us gifts and talents so we may enjoy life but also so we can share with others. Generous women and men, boys and girls, are needed for service and leadership in our Church.

Help us know how to encourage and support each other so we can respond generously to this need by becoming the kind of people You want us to be. We know that You will be with us ... Help us to trust in You and in each other. Amen.