The two most powerful ways to grow your parish vocation ministry are individual and group Holy Hours before the Blessed Sacrament.

Program Outline

The Catholic devotional tradition of a Holy Hour has taken on a new dimension with the increasing popularity of priestly vocations as a main intention.

Praying a Holy Hour for an increase in vocations has found some prominent advocates, from associations devoted to Eucharistic adoration to high-ranking Church leaders. What’s more, reports from various dioceses have told of parallels between the growth in frequency of Eucharistic adoration and the growth in the number of vocations.

The USCCB encourages Catholics to engage in Holy Hour with the intention of an increase in vocations to their respective dioceses and around the world. Serra has its own customized resources to provide guidance on this to members within their respective chapters—and these resources can also be utilized by any other lay organization within the Church.

Outline

• One-hour devotional
• Conducted as Eucharistic adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
• For small or large groups
• Holy Hour includes…
  • Songs
  • Readings
  • Time for silent prayer
  • Time for silent meditation and adoration
  • Time for silent reflection

Program History and Development

Holy Hour is a Catholic devotional tradition that dates back to the 17th century and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of France. Over the years, there have appeared numerous variations on intentions to be prayed for within the hour-long devotion, which is undertaken by spending an hour in Eucharistic adoration.

The power of such prayer has been extolled throughout the Church; as applied to vocations, Holy Hour has found some prominent advocates. The Pope John Paul II Eucharistic Adoration Association holds that, “Grace through group prayer puts a great resource within our midst… [i]nspiration from the Holy Spirit guides us to help channel some of this prayerful energy to support our ordained clergy and seminarians, as well as amplifying the call to vocations.”

More generally, the role of laypeople in engaging regularly in prayer for vocations has been emphasized strongly by Church leaders. In a homily to the faithful of the Archdiocese, Bishop Raymond Goedert of Chicago once remarked, “You have been called to be leaders. Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. You, the laity, have the power to save the Church!”

Resources

Reference Materials:

From Vianney Vocations:
Intercession for Vocations Holy Hour
Holy Hour to Know My Vocation
Holy Hour Pew Cards

The following hotlinks include instruction guides, scripts and support materials:
Holy Hour of Prayer for Those Called to Priesthood and Religious Life
USCCB – Holy Hour for Vocations
Additional Prayer for Private Devotion
Prayer Page 1 [Printable image]
Prayer Page 2 [Printable image]
Serra Adoration Book in English (docx)
Serra Adoration Book in Spanish (docx)
Serra 7 Day Prayer (docx)

Serra SPARK Helpers^©

Holy Hour of Prayer for Those Called to Priesthood and Religious Life
USCCB – Holy Hour for Vocations

Holy Hour for Vocations developed around The Miracles of the Holy Eucharist as developed by Saint Carlo Acutis Patron of Youth and the Internet.  The following materials for the holy hour may be adapted for local use:
Announcement
Program
Script

Holy for Vocations developed around This Holy Hour has been developed around the life and martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Rother.  The following materials for the holy hour may be adapted for local use:
Poster
Program (English)
Program (Spanish)
Script (Bi-lingual)

The Traveling Monstrance Blessed by Pope St. John Paul II is available for use in your Diocese coordinated by a Serra Club Member. Contact the Serra Office 312-419-7411
Promoting Vocations with the St. John Paul II Monstrance

A description of how the Serra Club of North Idaho promote hosting the monstrance:
How the Serra Club of North Idaho Promotes Hosting the Monstrance
Saint’s traveling monstrance inspires vocations in northern Idaho – FāVS News

A prayer card from Vianney Vocations:

Prayer Card – Pope St. John Paul II Monstrance (set of 50) | Vianney Vocations

or

https://vianneyvocations.com/product/prayer-card-jpii-monstrance/