For Immediate Release

website@vocation.com

www.vocation.com Visitors Top One Million!

CUMMING, GA, USA  APRIL 21, 2005 In three short years, www.vocation.com has established itself as the premier interactive website helping young people hear and respond to Gods will in their lives.  Last month, the one- millionth visitor logged onto the website which extends to 57 countries on six continents and is translated in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and soon to be Portuguese.  The site now hosts over 2,000 visitors per day; it has responded to 10,000 requests for spiritual guidance, vocation-relation questions, and prayers; and boasts 7,800 registered subscribers to its free weekly vocational newsletter ShoreLines.  As well, over 2,500 registered adorers worldwide logged an astounding 321,000 hours in the Adoration for Vocations campaign.  

Begun in March 2002, the unique website is a response to Pope John Paul IIs call to put the mass media at the service of the universal Church.  Guests with specific discernment questions can correspond directly with Fr. Anthony Bannon, LC who will respond in confidence or post the answer on the site which features more than 350 questions/answers.  The guest can also request assistance in locating a personal spiritual director.  As Father Stuart notes, vocation.com is so helpful to local churches, because the website refers inquiries that they receive to the local Director of Vocations where the inquirer lives.  In addition to interactive advice, www.vocation.com features video testimonies of the unique vocation stories from priests, consecrated men and consecrated women, plus texts on the basics of prayer, meditation collections, and a comprehensive vocation discernment checklist.

Through a new Adoration for Vocations campaign launched in conjunction with the Holy Sees Congregation for Catholic Education and Pontifical Works for Vocations, and Serra International, the website offers tools for all Catholics to promote and foster vocations through local Adoration for Vocations programs. www.vocation.com displays a 24-hour worldwide calendar of people who are offering hours of adoration in their home parish, chapel, or shrine, thus bringing together those discerning a vocation and those supporting vocations with their prayers and sacrifices.

Please visit www.vocation.com to register for the free Shorelines newsletter or the Adoration for Vocations campaign.