Vocations

The Church on Ember Day prays and celebrates for vocations in the
Church. There is a great need for growth of vocations in church this is
important in the life of the Church. Without vocations there is no growth of the
church. We need to encourage people to come forward for the ordained ministry.
Both young and old are called to the ordained ministry (Deacons, Priests, and
Bishops). Apart from the ordained ministries we have other ministries in the
Church that need to grow and to be supported. For example we need more lay
ministers our current lay ministers, dedicated and loyal are wanting to retire
but we do not have people stepping up to this ministry. We need side’s people
and we are glad that the Men’s group will be taking up the challenge to help
with the current team of sides people to grow this ministry. We need the
ministry of people who will deal with maintenance of the church building,
including its gardens.  We need people who are good planners and administrators to come forward for these are
ministries the parish needs for it to develop and meet the growing challenges of
our time.  Next year we hope to have a vocations conference where people are invited to come and see, explore
and to test the types of ministries that are in the parish and we will be
setting a up a team to run with this crucial project for 2013. We also need to
challenge people who discourage people from exploring ministries in the parish.
E.g. Like a parent who believes that being a priest or nun is not a profitable
career in terms of financial gains and social status. True there is no money in
the ordained ministry or being called to be a nun or brother but there is the
reward of serving God and personal fulfilment. We are all called by God. God
calls sinful human beings to serve him in his church. St Paul was murderer but
God called him to be an evangelist. So if God can call a murderer to evangelise
the world, why would he not call us as well since we have not committed an
heinous crime like Paul? So we need to be open to the Holy Spirit which invites
all people to serve in various ministries.  There is a lot to be done in the
parish. For an example visiting ministry can be enhanced if the Mother’s Union
or the Men’s Group became involved. Hospital Ministry could grow if people were
open to our Lord Jesus Christ who is the healer and he calls us to respond to
the needs of the world through the ministry of healing. There is no reason why
we cannot be involved in a ministry in the parish. 
Vocations and ministries are open to all and we are all called by the
same God to be of service to him, no one is left out and no one is left behind. 
Fr. Barnabas Nqindi