11th May 2014 - Vocation Sunday - 4th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are joined by Fr Noel Kirwin, Vocations Director for Limerick diocese who reflects on Vocation Sunday but also on opening up space in our lives to listen to what God is calling each of us to do. We have our regular Sunday gospel reflection and some other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE.

Vocation Sunday - "Diocesan priesthood is a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role”

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated on Sunday 11 May this year, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is also known as Vocations Sunday or Good Shepherd Sunday and will be celebrated this year on the theme ‘Vocations: Witness to the Truth’.

In his message for Vocations Sunday the Holy Father Pope Francis encourages all in the Church to expect great things from God, and from ourselves in His service. Joy for that sort of disciple enables us to venture beyond the narrow limits of our comfort zones. That means taking risks, being prepared to journey, allowing God to be God in our lives. Pope Francis says, “A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people”.

You can read Pope Francis message HERE.

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Noel Kirwin to reflect on vocation as Vocations Director for the diocese of Limerick. He explores what vocation means for everyone no matter what path in life a person takes.

You can listen to Fr Noel's interview excerpted from the programme HERE.

Previous exploration of vocation on SS102fm:

• Vocations Sunday - Fr Chris O'Donnell - 29th April 2012 - podcast
• My Vocation Story - Fr Frank Duhig, PP Newcastle West - 21 February 2010
• My Vocation Story - Fr Noel Kirwin - Limerick Diocese Vocations Director, Director of Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre, PP St Michael's Parish - 22 Nov 2009
• My Vocation Story - Fr John O'Shea PP Abbeyfeale- 28 March 2009
• All blog posts dealing with vocation HERE.

Bishop Brendan Leahy has a message for Vocations Sunday which you can read HERE.

We need priests in the Diocese of Limerick so I ask you to pray that young men will hear and respond to the calling to priesthood. Don Bosco used to say that many boys at some point have felt the calling to priesthood. I am grateful to my own late father because when I was a teenager, wondering what I would do after school, he said: “don’t forget the possibility of priesthood”. I didn’t jump at the idea but at least he had planted the seed of the idea in my soul.

Responding to our calling is never the conclusion of a mathematical formula. It’s more a case of what’s called moral certainty. In other words, the circumstances are converging to point in this or that direction. At that point, it’s worth giving it a go, trusting that God will help us make the right decision. I have met young men who have said to me the idea of becoming a priest never occurred to them because no one ever said it to them. Once it was mentioned to them, they realised it could be for them.


Vocations Ireland has a series of stories of "A Day in the Life" of different men and women in religious life. You can also follow their Facebook page.

Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin has issued his first pastoral letter to the people of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin on the theme of vocations. Commenting on the release of the pastoral letter Bishop Nulty said: “On the day of my episcopal ordination I spoke about the importance of every priest being a director and promoter of vocations. I said then, and repeat now that: “diocesan priesthood is a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role" 

“With this pastoral I want to continue that conversation and I am inviting parishes to reflect on when was the last time someone was ordained from their parish and asking all parishes to think about how they can actively promote vocations......I am also asking parents and friends to encourage, not discourage young people who need permission and reassurance to talk about and consider priesthood – my prayer is that this conversation will now begin.”

Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry reflects on Pope Francis' message for Vocations Sunday 2014 on the theme 'Vocations, Witness to the Truth'.

Gospel - John 10:1-10

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire English Dominicans Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 4, 4th week of Easter

Saints of the Week

May 12th - St Nereus & St Achilleus
May 13th - Our Lady of Fatima
May 14th - St Matthias (apostle)
May 15th - St Carthage
May 16th - St Brendan the Navigator (abbot and patron of the diocese of Kerry)
May 17th - St Pascal Baylon