4th Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd/Vocation Sunday

Message of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
for the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations
In Christ, the Head of the Church, which is his Body, all Christians form "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him" (1 Pt 2,9). The Church is holy, even if her members need to be purified, in order that holiness, which is a gift of God, can shine forth from them with its full splendour. The Second Vatican Council highlights the universal call to holiness, when it affirms: "The followers of Christ are called by God, not because of their works, but according to his own purpose and grace. They are justified in the Lord Jesus, because in the Baptism of faith they truly become sons of God and sharers in the divine nature. In this way, they are really made holy" (Lumen Gentium, 40).
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A Shepherd's Sacrifice
Pope St. Pius X received four priests in the apostolic palace one day and greeted each of them individually. The first introduced himself as a university professor. The second priest served on the faculty of a seminary. The third practiced canon law in his chancery. The fourth priest simply said, "Habeo curam animarum," which means, "I have the care of souls."

In a very beautiful way, he was telling the pope that he was a parish priest - a shepherd of souls. When St. Pius X heard those words, he knelt before that priest and asked for his blessing.
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My Sheep Hear My Voice
I wince, because before I entered religious life 18 years ago, this plea of desperation was the last reason why I wanted to become a religious and if I had been unsure of my vocation it would've been the last reason why I'd want to become a Sister. Who wants to rescue a sinking ship?

The fact is that there IS a new surge of vocations right now. Eighteen years ago I only knew one other person persuing a religious vocation (she is now a Cistercian). Now, it seems that young men and women often are part of a small group of like minded people inquiring into religious life.

A call to religious life is about answering the Shepherd's invitation. It is about saying YES with the entirety of one's life. It is responding to the call to become like Christ Crucified in self-sacrificing love. A vocation is about love: Christ's unconditional, total love for us and our response to Him. What matters is this exchange of love. Everything else: the "where", the "what" will follow if we first respond in love.
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UK National Office for Vocations - Resources
UK Priest
Catholic Insider - The World Through the Eyes and Ears of a Priest
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Prayer for Vocations
Father, today the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few, and You said to us through Your Son:
"Ask the Master of the harvest to send labourers to gather the harvest."
Filled with confidence, we ask in Your plan of salvation to provide shepherds for your people.
Fill those You have chosen in Singapore with a spirit of courage and love to answer the call as religious Brother or Sister.
We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Jean