Presented by:  Sr. Florence Manja.The Vocation Promoter – Malawi, Central Africa

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen.
 

Incarnate Wisdom you called us by our own names before creation begun. For your love and mercy endures forever as you continue to reach  out to the market squares and seducing the young ones to your love in order to let your  glory be shown to all mankind through us.

We humbly ask you to move the hearts of more young women to respond to your call through the Congregation of the Daughters of Wisdom. Let them discover your secret and motivate them to dream the will of Wisdom.

                                 PRAYER FOR THE VOCATION BY INDONESIA
   

“......COME FOLLOW ME.....” (LUKE,5:27”)

Introduction: vocation is a gift, each one of us are called to respond to it freely without any force from some one else. To respond this call we need the listening of heart and mind. As we are called, He who called us knows us through and through, just like what we listen from the gospel of Luke about the call of Levi. Jesus sees and  knows what is in the heart of each person.Let us continue to discover the call within us and let us respond with it freely and fully. Be not afraid.....

Opening hymn: with joy ful lips

With joyful lips, O Lord, I will sing your praise,
I will sing your praise; you are a feast for my soul.

1.    O God you are my God and my hope
My soul thirsts after you.

2.    Your glory I behold in the temple,
Your majesty enthroned.

3.    More beautiful than life is your glory.
My lips shall sing your praise.

4.    So all my life I bless you O Lord,
To you I lift my hands.

5.    As one that you have called to your feast,
My heart gives thanks to you.

6.    The shadow of your wings is my shelter,
My soul clings fast to you.

7.    My thoughts have turned to you in the night
At dawn I sing your praise.

8.    For you have been the light of my soul,
In you I put my trust.

9.    To Father, Son and Spirit give glory,
Both now and evermore.

Opening prayer: Lord Jesus Christ,Shepered of souls who called the Apostles to be fishers of men,raise up new apostles in your holy church.Teach them that to serve you is to reign:to possess you is to possess all things.Kindle in the young hearts of our people the fire for souls.Make them eager to spread your kingdom upon earth.Grant them courage to follow you,who are the way,the truth and the life,you who live and reign forever and ever Amen.

Reading: Exodus 2:4-7,10-12
When the lord saw Moses he coming over to look at the burning bush more closely,God called out to him from the bush,”Moses!Moses!”He answed, “Here I am”. God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandles from your feet,for the place where you stand is holy ground.I am the God of your father ,”He continued,” the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look at God but the Lord said ,” I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers,So I know well what they are suffering. Come ,now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people,the Israelites,out of Egypt.”but Moses said to God,”Who am I that I should go to pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?”He answered ,”I will be with you “.

Reflection: Reflect on the Scripture reading with the background of instrumental music,  and have short Sharing on it.

Intercession prayer: Respond: Lord Jesus remember us

• You who were sent by the father,and chose the Apostles to continue your mission in the world, grant that many young people may choose the apostolic life in evangelical poverty(R)
  
• Lamb of God, who by your death on the cross, showed your invinite love for us, raise up men and
  
• and women who will show their love for you by following the way of the cross(R)
• Eternal Wisdom, who deigned to become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, show to all those you call to follow you the happiness of welcoming you in to their hearts(R)
• Lord of Gory, who in baptism planted in us the seed of eternal life, welcome in to your eternal passover feast, all those in this lifeworked for the spread of you reign(R)
  

Closing  prayer:
         Creator Spirit, author of life bring this earth to the fullness of which you have destined it. Fill all your people called in baptism with a desire tosay ”Yes” to what you ask of them.Help them to be co-workers with you in sharing the promise of your son.we ask through Christ our Lord..Amen..

Introduction:
Today, we pray for all those being called to the religious life. May they have the courage to discern this call, listen to God’s voice, and overcome the pressures that our culture puts upon them to ignore their path in life.​

Lighting of the lamp:
 “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. With this thought, let us light the lamp.

Personal Reflection:
​
Leader: “Sometimes we ask ourselves: have we lost the capacity to attract new vocations? Besides promoting prayer for vocations, it is essential to act, encouraging in those called to consecrated life that free, willing, and generous response which carries into effect the grace of vocation.
 
(Please, take a moment of silence and try to reflect on your Vocations with it’s pro’s and corn’s, then share    your reflections in the form of Prayers...)
All: May we be people of courage, willing to invite others to consider this way of life for the sake of God’s people. Amen.

Intercessions:
 
Leader: Let us offer our prayers for the fostering of vocations of people of all ages to the religious life.
 
Reader 1: For young people in our community that they may respond generously with open hearts and willing spirits if the Lord calls them to the consecrated life. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Reader 2:  For all the women to be open to God’s call to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as consecrated persons. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Reader 3: For those who encourage others to respond to God’s call, may they be driven by the Holy Spirit to be excellent examples of their own vocations in life. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Reader 4: For the Church and all who minister in it, especially Pope Francis and our Bishop __________, may they continue to guide us inspired by their own vocations in life. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Reader 5: For the parents of young people responding to God’s call, may the find comfort and joy in the brave answer that their children make to their vocation. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Reader 6: For those preparing to make their consecrated vows and, May they be strengthened in their determination to do God’s will in service to him and his holy Church. We pray to the Lord. . .
         All: Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Leader: May the Lord give us all the courage to heed his call into discipleship and may we all be drawn into his loving care as we go out and make disciples of the people who need him most. May he bless us with vocations awareness in all our entities; may it inspire many young women to listen to their true calling. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
 
Leader: One our father, three hail Mary’s and one glory be to the Father - for all the Formators and for the formees.

Gracious Lord, thank You for the blessings of this day. Continue to be near to me, and help me to understand my vocation. You have blessed me with many gifts and talents which I want to use to serve you and the Church. Help me to know how best to serve.​
"Come, follow me," Jesus has told us. I want to follow, but I am not sure of the right path. Help me to make the right choices. You have blessed me, Lord, and I am grateful. Help me to see in myself what you see and give me the strength to follow my vocation.
Guide my heart as I grow in life. Let me share your love with all the people I encounter, especially my neighbor in need. Help me to believe NOTHING is impossible for You, My God. Every moment of my life I rejoice in you and the love that you show through me. Keep me centered in you as I make the small choices of each day and the bigger choices of my life.

Concluding prayer:
 
All powerful God, you are the source of my life and my desire to follow you. Sometimes there is so much noise inside and all around me, it is difficult to listen as Mary, the Mother of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help me to serene my heart, so that I will be able to reflect and recognize your presence in me. Fill me with your Spirit and set my heart on fire. Help me to trust you as Mary at the time of difficulties and trials. May I, like Mary, respond with “yes” to be your servant in this day and this age.

Introduction

Our prayer begins with a sung prayer, a mantra. Mantras are a common form of repetitive prayer in some parts of the world. In others they are new. Their purpose: to help us enter deeply into ourselves: to see God’s ways with our inner eye, to hear his Word as it touches our lives and calls us to open our hearts so that our relationship with God and others may grow

Or you may prefer to use a hymn, such as, “God has Chosen Me”, Bernadette Farrell or “Pescador de Hombres / Lord You Have Come to the Seashore”, Cesareo Gabarain)
Let us pray

We thank you, Lord God, that you have given our lives meaning.
We bless You for those events, people, and talents that have helped us discover purpose and fruitfulness in our lives.

Help us to go forward on the unique path that you have set before us.
We bless you for having entrusted to us a role in the coming of your kingdom on earth.

Word of God               Matthew 7, 7-11  Seek . . . Ask. . . Knock

Lord, we pray that you help us this day to become more conscious of your presence which always surrounds us, and of your Holy Spirit who dwells within us transforming our lives.

         Help us to listen to your voice so that we may recognize your call and follow you all our days.

Pour forth your compassionate love into our hearts so that we may become one with your beloved Son Jesus. Give us the strength to respond to your call by our compassionate love and dedicated service of others.

         We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son and our brother, by the power of your Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.
                                                                

PNG
​
LORD,
What do I seek? Lord, I am inspired sometimes like “John the Baptist” after he caught sight of YOU coming toward him and he exclaimed: « Look ! There is the lamb of God ! »
He did the same thing the next day and two disciples heard what  he said, and followed JESUS.
And when JESUS turned around he noticed them following HIM and asked them: « What do you seek » Jn1:29-38
Jesus, after my reflection, like the disciples Andrew, John who had found YOU, I will seek out my friends and tell them « I have found Messiah »
Yes, Lord it is privileged to know You and to be one to whom You wishes to reveal Yourself and even Mary the sister of Martha, who « chosen the better portion »
was not spared with grief at the sickness  and death of her brother Lazarus. My heart and my eyes are searching: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see and even many prophets and kings did not see it.”
Jesus, I pray I shall see You and hear your loving words calling me to follow You, the very
personification of  LOVE  whom we all seek.  Lord, we are asked to follow YOU, the Crucified, the Risen in glorified life. As the Ps 34:9 helps us to pray:

we " taste the goodness
of YOU LORD" in every Eucharist.
Because we have followed you JESUS,
who feeds us with the best of wheat"
and fills us with honey from the rock."

Now, the boy Samuel was serving Yahweh in the presence of Eli; in those days it was rare for Yahweh to speak; visions were uncommon.
2 One day, it happened that Eli was lying down in his room. His eyes were beginning to grow dim; he could no longer see.
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying in Yahweh's sanctuary, where the ark of God was,
4 when Yahweh called, 'Samuel! Samuel!' He answered, 'Here I am,'
5 and, running to Eli, he said, 'Here I am, as you called me.' Eli said, 'I did not call. Go back and lie down.' So he went and lay down.
6 And again Yahweh called, 'Samuel! Samuel!' He got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, as you called me.' He replied, 'I did not call, my son; go back and lie down.'
7 As yet, Samuel had no knowledge of Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him.
8 Again Yahweh called, the third time. He got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, as you called me.' Eli then understood that Yahweh was calling the child,
9 and he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if someone calls say, "Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening." ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Yahweh then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening.'
11 Yahweh then said to Samuel, 'I am going to do something in Israel which will make the ears of all who hear of it ring.
12 I shall carry out that day against Eli everything that I have said about his family, from beginning to end.
13 You are to tell him that I condemn his family for ever, since he is aware that his sons have been cursing God and yet has not corrected them.
14 Therefore -- I swear it to the family of Eli -- no sacrifice or offering shall ever expiate the guilt of Eli's family.'
15 Samuel lay where he was until morning and then opened the doors of Yahweh's temple. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision,
16 but Eli called Samuel and said, 'Samuel, my son.' 'Here I am,' he replied.
17 Eli asked, 'What message did he give you? Please do not hide it from me. May God bring unnameable ills on you and worse ones, too, if you hide from me anything of what he said to you.'
18 Samuel then told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Eli said, 'He is Yahweh; let him do what he thinks good.'
19 Samuel grew up. Yahweh was with him and did not let a single word fall to the ground of all that he had told him.
20 All Israel knew, from Dan to Beersheba, that Samuel was attested as a prophet of Yahweh.
21 Yahweh continued to manifest himself at Shiloh, revealing himself to Samuel there,

Creator spirit, author of life, bring this earth to the fullness of which you have destined it. Fill all the young people called in baptism with a desire to say”yes” to what you ask of them.Help them to be co-workers with you in sharing the promise of your son. we ask this through Jesus Christ Wisdom our Lord.Amen.....

 



   Indonesia : PRAYER FOR THE VOCATION

Song: YOU ARE MINE(David Haas)

Introduction:

          Vocation is a gift of GOD. It is like a seed which GOD has planted in each ones heart which symbolises with the soil. To keep it alive then we need water to grow according to HIS will. Now a days a call to be a religious is not easy. With the development of the technology, the changes of the time and the different ways of looking at the call itself; some how the challenges invite us to widen our hearts and minds to motivate the young people to find their vocation. Just like wisdom who seeks out and wants us to be with HIM and live in love.And calling us to do a job for HIM.

Opening prayer:

O Holy spirit, spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart your knowledge, understanding and counsel to the youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve GOD. Give them courage and strength to follow GOD’s Holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds , conquer their hearts, and lead to the vineyards where they will labor in GODS HOLY SERVICE.

1. Holy spirit song: from luwalhatit book no.442(other option)
2. Opening hymn:luwalhatit book no.62(yahweh you are near,other option)
3. Psalm:139:1-6,13-16, 23-24

Lord you have probed me, you know me:
You know when I sit and when I stand;you understood my thoghts from a far..my travels and my rest you mark;with all my ways you are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue,Lord you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.
You formed my inmost being; you knit in my mothers womb.
 I praise you,so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your ways 
My very self you knew;my bones were not hidden from you,


When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth
Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down;
My day were shaped, before one came to be.
How precious to me are your designs o GOD; how vast the sum of them!
Were I to count ,they would out number the sands;to finish I would need eternity.
 Probe me GOD, know my heart;try me,know my concerns.
See if my way is crooked, then lead me in the ancient paths.
Glory be.......

Reading: 1 samuel 3:1-21

Personal Reflection (accompanied by instrumental music)
-what is God’s spesific call to me?
-Do i hear my name call by God?(Samuel...samuel....samuel...)

• How much do i see my life as an  answer to GOD’s call?
• Do I at any time seek guidance from others as Samuel did?
  
  

Song from joyful lips no:S.12 (follow me, other option)

Intercession prayer:

Response: Lord guide the youth to find their vocation......

• Father of love, may your christian people be guided by your word into accordance with your will...R
• Father you know the many young people who have strayed from your church;touch their hearts and help them find their true happiness in you alone...R
• Father of mercy and compassion,look with love on the concecrated man and women and married couples who have strayed from their vocation, help them to be committed, loving and more understanding each day. Teach them to follow Christ even to the point of being ready to lay down their lives for others.....R(you are invited to add your own intercession  for the need of the vocation in your place..)
  
  

         God our father, hear the prayers of your chosen people.guide our actions and help us to be  
         faithful to your call so that your Name may be glorified. We make this prayer.......amen
         1.....our father       1.....hail mary 

Concluding prayer:
Creator spirit, author of life, bring this earth to the fullness of which you have destined it. Fill all the young people called in baptism with a desire to say”yes” to what you ask of them.help them to be co-workers with you in sharing the promise of your son.we ask this through Jesus Christ Wisdom our Lord.amen....

“Listen to the voice within that beckons into the unknown”

“Speak Lord, I am listening”    1 Sam 3:10

May the voice that beckons, guide and comfort you as the unknown calls to you.
I know what plans I have in my for you    Jer 29:11 - 14
May you be filled with joy, in knowing presence of Wisdom


    “Plans for peace and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope “


May you free yourself from all that binds you to your fears
    ‘When you call to me and come and pray to me, I shall listen to you’
May you listen with gentleness in your soul
“When you search for me, you will find me”
May you find the peace that awaits you
“When you search wholeheartedly for me, I will let you find me”

May Wisdom guide you and hold you
May you know the depth of God’s love for your being and all that you are.
May you hear and respond to the voice of God – the voice within the stillness and peace of silence.

God our Father, to you we entrust ourselves and all the youth of the world; together with our problems, aspirations and hopes. Look upon us with love and make us workers for peace and builders of a loving civilization. Call us to follow Jesus, your Son. Make us understand that to give one whole life for you and humanity is worthwhile. Grant us the generosity and readiness to reply “YES”. Listen, Lord to our praise and prayer for the young people who, after the example of Mary, Mother of the Church have believed in your word and are preparing Holy Orders, profession of the evangelical counsels or missionary work. Help them to understand  that their call is ever real and urgent. Amen.

St. John Paul II