Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to His apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest who is ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel and by providing other means to holiness.
St. Matthew Vocations Awareness Apostolate enlists the community to encourage single men and women to be open to a call to the priesthood or consecrated religious life and to support our priests, consecrated religious and seminarians on their journey. St. Matthew is blessed to have four full-time priests, two seminarians, and six deacons. Our parish has the rich soil to nourish the seeds sown by our community to call forth many more to lead souls to Christ.
All of us have something to contribute. It is faith-filled homes that foster vocations. Jesus tells us to pray that “the harvest master send laborers into the harvest.” When we encourage our children to discern if they have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, we show our support for their desire to serve. Let us Be Not Afraid to extend His call. We invite all to participate in the Vocations Awareness Apostolate. Each member agrees to offer up one rosary, one Mass and one visit to the Blessed Sacrament each month for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.