Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
19 Oct 2011
Chapel at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd
Men and women from Sydney's Catholic community are invited to participate in 40 Hours for Vocations this weekend in the first of what will become an annual event.
Already more than 94 have registered for this special weekend of prayer with a further 85 expected to sign on as participants over the next three days.
An initiative of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell in collaboration with the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush and the Archdiocese of Sydney's Vocations Centre, the prayer-filled 40 Hours for Vocations weekend will be held at the Seminary's chapel from 9 pm Friday, 21 October until 1 pm Sunday, 23 October.
"The tradition of 40 hours continuous adoration goes back many centuries and offers us the opportunity to pray over an extended period, awakening our love for, and appreciation of the Holy Eucharist," says Father Anthony Percy, Rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd.
This weekend's 40 hours of Eucharistic adoration is dedicated to prayers for those men and women discerning vocations.
Blessed John Paul II encouraged all
Christians in adoration of the Eucharist
"This prayerful time of silence in adoration presents an opportunity for us to spend some time with the Lord in relation to our own vocation, as well as a chance for us to pray for the whole body of Christ; for all the young men and women who are called by Christ to grow in holiness through their vocation to marriage, the priesthood and religious life," says Elizabeth Arblaster, Special Projects Officer for the Archdiocese of Sydney's Vocation Centre.
The program for the 40 Hours for Vocations weekend includes Mass, confession and readings by seminarians studying at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd. Among the readings will be meditations on vocations and the scriptures and writings of Blessed John Paul II.
Beatified in May this year, the first liturgical feast day of the much loved pontiff, Bl John Paul II will be celebrated on Saturday, 22 October.
"It seemed most appropriate to hold our 40 hours on this weekend since Bl. John Paul II inspired so many vocations by the example of his own life, and offered a wealth of teaching which has guided so many of us," says Elizabeth Arblaster.
Fr Anthony Percy
During his life time, Bl John Paul II, who died in 2005, frequently spoke of the great need for Eucharistic Adoration in today's world, describing adoration as a sacrament of love and a personal invitation from Jesus.
"Our communal worship at Mass must go together with our personal worship of Jesus in Eucharistic adoration in order that our love may be complete," Bl John Paul II wrote in his first encyclical, Redeemer of Man.
Throughout his life, he encouraged Christians to regularly visit Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament: "For we are called to abide in the presence of God. In contemplation, Christians will perceive ever more profoundly the mystery at the heart of Christian life," he said.
40 Hours for Vocations is open to both men and women and will take place from 9 pm, Friday 21 October until 1 pm Sunday, 23 October in the chapel at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush. For detailed program of the weekend, log on tohttp://www.vocationcentre.org.au/importantdates/pdf/Forty%20Hours%20Program.pdf
For additional information and to register, visit the Vocations Centre's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=270039273020937
http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2011/20111019_4.shtml
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