Catholic Trends
November Catholic Trends

New Ulm - The new bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, called for a special emphasis on vocations during the homily of his installation Mass, asking specifically for prayer and fasting during the next year for priestly, religious, diaconal, and missionary vocations. In September he wrote to pastoral leaders outlining his plan for conducting a vocations prayer contest, encouraging Catholic School and Religious Education students to participate in the contest. Bishop Nienstedt personally offered $100 to the best three submissions.

The lucky three were announced in a recent letter to pastoral leaders dated October 18. Over 200 entries were submitted which according to Bishop Nienstedt, made the judging a challenging process. He commented, "Most of the entries were excellent which made my task of selecting only three a difficult one."

The three winners are Connie Ericson, St. Anastasia, Hutchinson; Paul Blaschko, St. Michael, Gaylord; Arthur Messick, St. John, Appleton. (See below for winning prayers).

Bishop Nienstedt has spent the past several months visiting parishes and schools throughout the diocese. During these visits he has taken the opportunity to further explain his sense of commitment and urgency for vocations promotions calling for a year of prayer and fasting specifically for the intention of vocations.

"I also want to assure you that this is not simply a numbers game, a mere program of recruitment. No, it is a call to liberate the hearts of those individuals who have been chosen by Christ for his service, in order that they may realize the potential that God has given them. I have known that sense of fulfillment in my life as a priest these past 27 years. With all my heart, I want others to know the joy and satisfaction of that commitment in their lives as well."

According to Father Brian Oestreich, Director of the Office of Vocations for the diocese, 10 young men are presently studying for the priesthood for the diocese of New Ulm. "The vocations prayer contest supports our effort in creating more awareness about the opportunity to serve the people of the diocese as a priest or religious."

Here are the winning Vocations Prayers!

Everything you make is good. Everything you make is yours. We are yours, dear Lord. Instill in us a deep desire to search your truths and to live our lives with only one goal in mind: to be with you forever. Give us a listening heart that we might hear you calling us to serve you as a Priest, Sister, or Brother, guiding others on their way to you.

Help us to know how you want us to serve you. We ask this through the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Connie Ericson, Hutchinson

Lord, God,
We thank you for your everlasting love and kindness. We ask you now to spark a flame in the youth of today: a flame of vocations that will spread throughout the Diocese of New Ulm and the world. We call on you now to stir a desire among men and women to give willingly as the Lord our God has given.

Mary, mother of our beloved Savior, on behalf of the Diocese of New Ulm pray for us to the Lord our God that we will gather a harvest of dedicated priests and religious men and women. As Christians, we are called by God to participate in Jesus’ saving ministries. Help all of us to hear and obey your call. We pray this is in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Paul Blaschko, Gaylord

Dear Lord,
By your infinite wisdom, you have guided and nurtured your church throughout the centuries. We ask through the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ, that you send us your chosen disciples to lead us in our faith, and illuminate our souls with your words. We ask for those to guide us, counsel us, and walk with us in our daily Way of the Cross here on earth.

We ask in supplication, for you to fill our need through the sacrament of Vocations and to send us your messengers to be our Priests, Sisters, Brothers, and Deacons.

As your church blossomed from Jerusalem two centuries ago, let it blossom anew to overflowing with your chosen to guide us and grace us with your light.

Arthur Messick, Appleton