Hi all! Us Augustinians are gearing up for two very special days next week. As we approach the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on April 30th and Religious Brothers Day on May 1st, we invite you to continue to reflect on the important role that our Augustinian brothers play in the Church, and to draw inspiration from the legacy of Saint Augustine.
Established by Pope Paul VI in 1963, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. As Catholics, we firmly believe that God has a plan for our lives! He calls some to marriage, some to the priesthood, and others to religious life or to live as generous single people. Fully living our own vocations (and teaching young people how to discern God’s call) is a serious duty, but also a joyful one. During this week, please encourage the young people in your life—children, grandchildren, students, and friends—to be open if God calls them to priesthood or religious life.
On May 1st we celebrate Religious Brothers Day, which honors the vital contributions of religious brothers to the Church and the world. We take time this week to reflect on all of our Catholic Brothers, and the wonderful things they do in our communities. Our Augustinian brothers can be found teaching in schools, working in soup kitchens, building schools, or supporting any other range of ministries. This week, gather as a community to celebrate your vocation, thank a brother at your parish, and spread the word about religious life by word and online. As we celebrate Religious Brothers Day, let us offer prayers of gratitude for these devoted men, who have dedicated their lives to serving God and the Church.
As Catholics, we are called to be a people of prayer; and these special days provide us a beautiful opportunity to come together in prayerful solidarity. Let us pray for a continued increase in vocations to religious life, and may the Lord bless and guide all those who are discerning their vocations. May they be inspired by the powerful examples of St. Augustine and the Brothers who have dedicated their lives to serving God and the Church.