#14. The 31 Club

Summary

One of the easiest—and most direct—ways for the faithful to take part in the overall vocation-promotion effort, the 31 Club has become a mainstay at parishes around America and, indeed, around the world.

After signing up, a member picks any date of the month—from 1 to 31—that suits them; then, they commit to go to Mass or a Holy Hour on that day each month over the following year…and to devote that Mass or prayer to an increase in vocations, and for priests and religious already serving the Church.

The 31 Club does not hold meetings, nor does it require its members to pay dues.  Membership is open to all—including parishioners who are homebound and wish to offer their sufferings and prayer for that day.

Program Outline

• 31 Club is one of the easiest, most direct ways for churchgoers to help out in the vocations effort—at the parish level
  • Has become a mainstay at parishes around American and around the world
• How it works:
  • Sign up via a simple form
  • Pledge to attend an extra Mass one day a month—on a day chosen by the person signing up
  • Go to Mass or make a Holy Hour on that day each month over the next year
• Devote that Mass to an increase in vocations and for priests and religious already serving
  • Goal is to build enough membership within the parish to cover all 365 days of the year
• No meetings
• No dues
• Open to all parishioners

Implementation

Using Serrans/Volunteers:

• Publicizing the effort
• Soliciting participants
• Conducting sign-up and handing out reminder cards

Program History, Development, and Additional Resources

The history of the 31 Club goes back to the 1970s in New Zealand.  A local priest saw a need for an increase in vocations in addition to a need for support of current vocations, and asked his parishioners to pick one date in the month that did not fall on a Sunday.  After choosing the date, they were to attend Mass on that date, and offer it with prayers for priests and religious serving the Church, as well as for an increase in vocations.  Thus, they’d attend one extra Mass every month as an offering for vocations initiation and support.

Catholics all over the world now pray for vocations through the 31 Club program.  In some cases, parishes are bringing back the program to their locale as part of a renewed effort to promote vocations.

Membership in this club requires one to sign up via a simple form and pledge to attend an extra Mass or make a Holy hour once a month.  The person signing up picks any date of the month—from 1 to 31—that suits them; then, they commit to go to Mass on that day each month over the following year…and to devote that Mass to an increase in vocations, and for priests and religious already serving the Church.  Club leaders use a special calendar to track the names of members and the days of the month on which they’ve committed to attend the extra liturgies.  Signing up for the 31 Club is often facilitated via sign-up sheets at the entrances of churches and notices placed in parish bulletins.

The goal, within a given parish, is to build up enough membership to cover all 365 days of the year.

The 31 Club does not hold meetings, nor does it require its members to pay dues.

31 Club membership is open to all—including parishioners who are homebound.

Other Resources