Bishop Armando Ochoa's Message
____________________________________________

Diocesan Prayer Campaign for Vocations to
begin April 13
Bishop Armando X. Ochoa
-April 2008-

Dear Friends in Christ,

Our Holy Father has designated the Fourth Sunday of Easter as World Day of Prayer for Vocations to the priesthood.  This Sunday, has also been know as Good Shepherd Sunday because of the Gospel of the Good Shepherd from St. John.

 I have chosen this Sunday, April 13, 2008, to officially launch a Diocesan wide Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life.  I will be mailing a letter to all diocesan and religious order priests advising them of this new vocation awareness prayer.  I will ask that this prayer be used as the concluding prayer for the Prayer of Intercessions at all Masses.

In an ongoing effort to encourage a culture of vocations, through the efforts of our Serra Club, the Knights of Columbus, and other volunteers, there will be delivered to each parish, a number of these Vocation Prayers both in English and Spanish.  To begin the program, all will be encouraged to pray the prayer aloud, along with the celebrant of the Mass.   As has been the custom in other dioceses, I am sure that all will soon memorize the prayer and there will no longer be a need to have these prayers available in the pews.

This vocation project, underwritten by our Vocation Advisory Council, comes at a critical time in the life of our Diocesan family.  It was just last month, that I announced for the first time in the city limits of El Paso, that we now have our first “priestless parish.”  I refer to the Parish of Our Lady of the Light.  We no longer have a priest in residence at the parish.  The parish is now under the leadership of a woman religious.  Sr. Teresa Alcántara, HSJL is now the Parish Life Coordinator, responsible for the faith life of the parish.  Thanks to the generosity of another priest, Fr. Vidal Robles, will be the Sacramental Priest responsible only for the weekend Masses and other special liturgies. Msgr. David Fierro, while retaining his current position as Pastor of St. Matthew’s, will serve as the Presbyteral Moderator of Our Lady of the Light.  Msgr. Fierro will be available should Sr. Teresa need to run pastoral matters or concern by him.

Let us pray for vocations.

Gracious and loving God under the inspiration of Our Lady of Guadalupe raise up men and women of our parish to the call to serve in the Diocese of El Paso. Our needs are great and our people thirst for your presence. Open the hearts of many, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated, holy priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons, who will spend themselves for your people and their needs. Bless those who are serving now with courage and perseverance.  Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith to serve in the ministerial priesthood, consecrated life, and lay ministry. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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