Called by God, Inspired by the Saints

Every now and then, we are blessed with the opportunity to celebrate a Solemnity on a Sunday. When a Solemnity falls on a Sunday during what we call in the Church “Ordinary Time” (the time between seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter, and Christmas), the Solemnity replaces the Sunday. So, the Scripture readings and prayers for the Mass are taken from the Solemnity. 

We have that this Sunday as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. The Saints (those canonized and formally recognized by the Church and all people in heaven) now work to get the rest of us there. There is no work that is more important than this. So, think of it in these terms: the more people who are in heaven, the more people we have interceding and praying for us to make it there. Therefore, we likewise need to pray for all who have died, that they make it to heaven. It is a great circle: we pray for them, they go to heaven and pray for us, and we pray for more to follow and reach heaven. Burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy, and praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. This is why we dedicate the whole month of November to remember those who have died.  

As we turn the calendar to November 1, we also begin the annual weeklong celebration of Vocations Awareness Week. To celebrate this week, we first need to recognize God’s call in our lives. Whether we have called to be a priest, deacon, religious, seminarian, single, married, parent, or student, we all need to thank God for our Vocation. I have found in recent years the more I thank God for the gift of my Vocation, the happier I am living the Vocation and I am guessing I live that Vocation even better.

One way we are blessed at Saint Patrick Parish with celebrating Vocations Awareness Week is by hosting, for the second year in a row, a Bethany Brunch on Saturday, November 7. The Salesian Sisters, Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Carmelite Sisters will lead the young women attending into a deeper understanding of their relationship with the Lord as young women. It’s a unique opportunity for young women to freely come together and spend time with Sisters who understand where they are. The morning is not at all designed exclusively for young adult women that are thinking about religious life, it is designed for any young woman. To register, contact Abby at 515.571.0844 or alandwehr@catholicdos.org.

The day will continue for all of us on Saturday, November 7, as the Sisters will be with for our 5 PM Mass and then all are invited to a Chili Potluck and time to visit with the Sisters. You don’t need to bring chili, but you are welcome to, if you like. You can also bring anything you want to share, or just bring yourself! But take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to visit with and hear from various Sisters about their lives and communities. 

We are seeing great fruit from the many prayers we are offering for Vocations. Please continue to pray for Vocations at every opportunity.

Vocations Awareness week is November 1-7. If you are not already doing so, I ask you to pray daily our Diocesan Vocations Prayer. Also, check out our Diocesan Vocations WEBSITE. You can find the Vocations Prayer, meet our seminarians, and find ways to support Vocations in our Diocese. There is also a booklet available there you can use to pray the Rosary for our Priests and Seminarians.

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