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Glory to Jesus Christ!
The gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus, at the sight of the crowd following him, was moved to pity, for they were like a sheep without a shepherd. Turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "The harvest is truly plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest that he send laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38) It might seem odd that we should be asked to pray to the owner of the harvest to send workers into his own fields. Jesus, though, is making two points here: God wants us to share in the responsibility of providing shepherds to His people and this collaboration is defined primarily in terms of prayer. All of us ought to feel personally responsible in fostering future leaders of the Church, clergy, religious, missionaries and laity alike, dedicated to serve God’s people. While it may not be possible for many to be directly involved in vocational ministry, all can and should pray for vocations; for this prayer is an invisible, but essential, ministry in the Church. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Prayer for Vocations (To be taken after the Ambon Prayer towards the end of the Divine Liturgy)
Troparion in tone 8 O Savior, You called the fisherman and they immediately left their nets to follow You. Your voice resounds with authority, "Make disciples of all nations, teach them to carry out everything I have commanded." Give us today zealous workers for Your kingdom to reap the harvest of faith; for You provide always for Your beloved Church.
Theotokion in Troparion tone 8 Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen O holy Virgin, Mother of God, with confidence you told those at the wedding of Cana, "Do whatever my Son tells you. Ask Him to provide an abundance of vocations for the Church. Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy.
Petitions Priest: For each of us here present, that we may listen to the Lord when He calls us by name and serve Him in our brothers and sisters, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: That all faithful and courageous men and women will continue to respond to God’s call to proclaim the Word of God throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: For the desire to notice, to call forth and to nurture the gifts of the people in our parish and in this Eparchy, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For the blessing of an increase of vocations to guide our Church, especially vocations to the priestly and religious life, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: For the youth of our parish, that they may respond to God’s challenging call with confidence and generosity, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: For all of us, that we may be firm in our commitment to pray to the Lord of the harvest so that he may send more laborers into His harvest, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: Hear us, 0 God our Savior, hope of all bounds of the earth and of those far away from home. In Your graciousness be merciful to us sinners, 0 Master. For You are a merciful God and You love mankind, and we glorify You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Response: Amen Priest: Let us Pray to the Lord. Response: Lord Have mercy. Priest: Heavenly Father, Your Divine Son taught us to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his vineyard. We earnestly beg you to bless the Eparchy of Van Nuys and the entire Metropolitan Province of Pittsburgh and the whole world with many priests and religious who will love You fervently, and gladly and courageously spend their lives in service to You Son’s Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray that their lives may always be centered on our Lord Jesus and that they may devoted sons and daughters of Mary, the Mother of God, and our Mother, in making You known and loved and that they may attain Heaven. Bless our families and our children and choose from our homes and our parish those whom you desire for this holy work. We ask this though the mercies of Your only begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with You all holy, gracious and life creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. Response: Amen
Blessing of the Icon
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord have mercy. Priest: O Savior, You called the fisherman and they immediately left their nets to follow You. Your voice resounds with authority, "Make disciples of all nations, teach them to carry out everything I have commanded." Give us today zealous workers for Your kingdom to reap the harvest of faith; for You provide always for Your beloved Church. May Your blessings come upon this icon that You hear the petitions of those praying before Your image and bless our Church with an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This icon is blessed and sanctified by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Response: Amen
Conclusion of Liturgy now follows + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + DAILY PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS Heavenly Father, Your Divine Son taught us to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His vineyard. We earnestly beg You to bless our Diocese, our Metropolitan Province and our world with many priests and religious who will love You fervently, and gladly and courageously spend their lives in service to Your Son’s Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray that their lives may always be centered on our Lord Jesus and that they may be devoted sons and daughters of Mary, the Mother of God, and our Mother, in making You known and loved and that all may attain Heaven. Bless our families and our children and choose from our homes and our parish those whom you desire for this holy work. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Serran Prayer for the Perseverance of Vocations O God, you have constituted your only-begotten Son supreme and eternal Priest for the glory of your majesty and the salvation of all people: grant that those whom He has chosen ministers and dispensers of His mysteries may be found faithful in fulfilling the ministry they have received. Amen. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Prayer for Seminarians Saints Cyril and Methodius, Venerable Apostles of the Slays and Patrons of our Byzantine Catholic Seminary, we place our Seminarians in your loving care. Help them to grow in humility, meekness and prudence. Enkindle in them a burning zeal for souls. May their hearts be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and may they learn to know and love the Church so that they may always and everywhere think, speak and act with Her, the Glorious Spouse of Christ. May they become exemplars of generosity and detachment from the things of this world. But above all, Venerable Patrons, help them to truly know, love and serve the Eternal High Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose priests they aspire to be. Amen! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Prayer For Vocations O Lord Jesus Christ, instill in the hearts of young men and women, a willingness to joyfully give their lives for the sake of souls, and call them to your service. Hear my prayer and the prayers of Your Church: send us good, faithful and holy priests and religious to lead Your people to their eternal happiness. Amen!
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