Dear Greg,

Judging from the young people I have dealt with over the years, there are three interacting areas which if we focus on them will help foster vocations in our parishes.

One is prayer. Constant public and specific prayer for vocations that will help put the idea in young people's minds, open parents to the idea of vocations in their families, and gain graces for those young people that God is calling. I recommend Adoration for Vocations (see website) as one program.

Two is family life. Most of our vocations come from Catholic homes where the faith is practiced and passed on, and where the children can grow up and experience for themselves the beauty and dignity of the married vocation. A good, long-term program of marriage preparation through the parish youth work is important; fostering support groups for young families, ongoing formation in the faith for young parents, etc. All of this helps create the conditions that will foster vocations.

Three is youth work. Naturally we should recruit into this work the parishioners with more talent in the area and the programs should be attractive to the youth, but the se programs especially need to have a strong formative element, both in doctrine and spirituality, and lead the young people to a better living of the Catholic life and a personal commitment to the faith. It is great if the parish can have a school, and if it supports those parishioners who opt for home-schooling. Having the young people participate in some form of outreach, service or missionary work as part of the youth program is also important. They should also be able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently and have access to spiritual direction.

There it is in a nutshell, I hope these ideas are of some assistance to you in your work.

God bless.