More than 4,000 youths from different dioceses around the country are expected to attend the National Vocation Festival on April 27 which aims to encourage vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.
The festival is one of the National Convention of Vocation Directors and Directresses’ activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Vocations executive secretary Fr. Randy de Jesus stressed the need to promote the culture of vocation in the dioceses to encourage the youth to serve the Church.
“We must promote the culture of vocation in our dioceses to encourage the young to serve the Church which is the mission of the first ever National Vocation Festival,” said Fr. De Jesus over Radio Veritas.
The priest who also serves as the national coordinator of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines said the first National Vocation Festival will be held on April 27 at the Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite.
The theme for the gathering is 'Sa tawag ng Mabuting Pastol, sama-samang magmimisyon! (At the call of the Good Shepherd, in the mission, we participate!) Tena't Magkarakol!'
Fr. de Jesus said the festival seeks to create awareness on the importance of vocation in a Christian community. Church leaders will share their experiences and reflections during the event to inspire the young attendees.
“The goal is not really how many will enter the seminary but on how the participants will be inspired by the lives of those-priests, nuns, the religious, who chose to serve the Church,” the Church leader said.
The priest requested the faithful for prayers for more vocations to the priesthood and the religious life as well as for the success of the vocation festival.
According to the Vatican’s Fides News Agency, there are about 407,000 priests around the world for a ratio of one priest for every 3,373 Catholics There was a recorded decline of more than 2,000 priests in 2023.
The country has about 11,000 priests ministering to more than 85 million Roman Catholics.