Diocese to Celebrate Vocation Awareness Week on Jan. 8-14

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Jan. 5, 2012) -- The Diocese of Green Bay will celebrate Vocation Awareness Week Jan. 8-14. This week provides an opportunity to increase awareness and focused prayer on hearing God's call in your life.

"It is a week to be more aware of how Jesus Christ calls the Church today to rise up by committing to a life of service in priesthood or religious life," says Fr. Daniel Schuster, vocations director for the Diocese of Green Bay. "We especially encourage our Catholic schools and religious education programs to invite a priest or sister to share their vocation stories during this week."

Theme: 'Rise Up in Splendor'

The annual celebration traditionally begins on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on Jan. 9 this year. The diocese will begin its observance a day early on Jan. 8, the Epiphany of the Lord, with a reading from the prophet Isaiah, "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you."

Fr. Schuster chose the first words of the reading, "Rise up in splendor," as this year's theme. The word splendor comes from the Latin splendere, meaning "to shine." Fr. Schuster says an encouraging source of light in today's world comes from those making commitments to the Church.

God Gives Each Person Unique Call

"Catholics have an ancient belief that each human being has a unique, God-given vocation and is called to make a commitment to that vocation," Fr. Schuster says. "It is important that young Catholics recognize the great need our Diocese has for more priests and religious brothers and sisters."

The Diocese of Green Bay’s 157 parishes currently are served by 87 active diocesan priests and many priests from religious orders. In addition, many senior priests remain active in the parishes. The Diocese also has 110 active deacons assigned to parishes or chaplaincies, 23 seminarians, 34 brothers, and nearly 500 sisters serving in 24 congregations of religious women.

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Who We Are

The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay works to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ by helping people in need and by providing academic, leadership and spiritual formation opportunities to parish and school leaders. Established in 1868, the Diocese is composed of 345,000 Catholics in 16 counties: Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago.

Contact

Deacon Ray DuBois
Director of Communications
Phone: (920) 272-8213
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Amber Backus
Communications Coordinator
Phone: (920) 272-8209
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