Vocations

The Latest

For committed Catholics, statistics like this come as no surprise. It’s the Gospel message in a bar-graph, the Cross in a pie-chart.

What makes the religious so happy?

Nov 28, 2024

By Peter Laffin

“Priestly happiness is one of the great secrets of our time,” said Rossetti, a research associate professor at The Catholic... Read more

Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune poses alongside many of the priests of the Diocese of Charleston at a recent ordination. The diocese has seen a recent surge in vocations.

Vocations shortage? Pray for vocations during National Vocations Awareness Week

Nov 3, 2024

By Diego López Marina

The event, which will take place Nov. 3–9, is dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life... Read more

Will Heller is a 21-year-old weightlifting phenom from Toledo, Ohio who now has his sights on becoming a Catholic priest.

Weightlifting champion puts barbell to the side for a new journey — the priesthood 

Aug 4, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Will Heller, a 21-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, is a two-time Junior National Medalist and All American and a state record... Read more

Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune poses alongside many of the priests of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, at a recent ordination. The diocese has seen a recent surge in vocations

Study on priest and religious student debt finds it can be a barrier to vocations

Aug 1, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The researchers found that a discerning person’s student debt can be a barrier, as some choose on their own not... Read more

Sister Solanus Casey Danda, SOLT, second from left, is one of several religious sisters with Detroit ties who in recent years entered religious life and chose Blessed Solanus Casey as their namesake. Four sisters interviewed by Detroit Catholic explained how Detroit’s beloved Capuchin friar played a significant role in their discernment journeys, and why, after much prayer, they chose him as a model of holiness in their own vocations.

Religious sisters share why they chose Blessed Solanus Casey as their namesake

Jul 30, 2024

By Kelly Luttinen

Four religious sisters with ties to Detroit explain how Blessed Solanus Casey inspired their vocations enough to adopt his name. Read more

Bishop Andrew Cozzens holds the Eucharist over the faithful for benediction while standing on the Indiana War Memorial.

Bishop Cozzens on the National Eucharistic Congress: ‘God showed us how good he is’

Jul 26, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

“God is able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine. And that was my experience,” Bishop Andrew Cozzens... Read more

Bearded former punk band guitarist Father Giulio Vannucci and former policeman Father Michele Di Stefano flank Bishop Giovanni Nerbini following their June 8, 2024, ordination to the Catholic priesthood.

Former punk band guitarist, policeman ordained to Catholic priesthood

Jun 12, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The Cathedral of Prato, Italy, was the setting last Saturday for the ordination of a former punk band guitarist and... Read more

Mother of twin priests Eliete Dahan dos Santos says “there is no greater wealth than having priest sons.”

Mother of twin priests: The greatest wealth for parents is to have sons who are priests

May 21, 2024

By Natalia Zimbrão

“I believe there is no greater wealth for parents than having sons who are priests,” says Eliete Dahan dos Santos... Read more

Mother Marla Marie stands on the front porch of the sisters’ Mother of the Light convent in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

From the Washington Post to the Maronite convent: Meet Mother Marla Marie

May 4, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

“I wanted to be a journalist to spread the truth,” Mother Marla said of her time at the Washington Post.... Read more

Springfield Bishop William Byrne and his sibling Sister Dede Byrne speak to EWTN News’ Catherine Hadro at the 2024 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C., Feb. 8, 2024.

Brother and sister who are bishop and nun say faithful parents helped foster vocations

Feb 9, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

For Bishop William Byrne and his sibling Sister Dede Byrne, it was their parents’ daily devotion to the Eucharist that... Read more

Members of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia enjoying a performance of The Hillbilly Thomists at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Aug. 1, 2022.

Catholic by the numbers: New religious brothers and sisters have a lot in common

Jan 25, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

A new survey report polled 48 religious brothers and priests and 53 religious sisters in the U.S. who professed perpetual... Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, and Bishop Earl Fernandes.

A cardinal, an archbishop, and a bishop reveal their vocation stories

Dec 17, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

During this year’s bishops’ conference in Baltimore, three prelates serving in different parts of the country shared their stories of... Read more

Eucharistic adoration following the pope's Corpus Christi Mass June 14, 2020.

Pope Francis: The Eucharist can fill ‘the wounds and voids produced by sin’

Aug 25, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope said in the eyes of the world it might appear “absurd” to confront societal problems by praying on... Read more

Father Mendo Saraiva de Refóios Paes de Ataíde (left), Father Peter Julia (center), and Brother Federico Viquez.

‘I want to give my life for this’: 2 priests, friar at WYD share their vocation stories

Aug 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus, Daniel Payne

All three priests are in Lisbon, Portugal, this week for World Youth Day 2023 and spoke to CNA about their... Read more

At World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Nelson Cintra (at left in top row) was changed by Christ — and now he will go to Lisbon as a new priest for World Youth Day 2023, Aug. 1–6.

‘Give your life to Jesus’: How a World Youth Day put a young man on the path to priesthood

Jul 25, 2023

By Lori Hadacek Chaplin

At World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Nelson Cintra knelt and prayed: “Christ, I give you my whole life.” Read more

Pope Francis smiles with two religious sisters during his general audience on Jan. 11, 2023

Pope Francis: ‘There is no vocation without mission’

Apr 26, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2023, Pope Francis said “God’s call includes a ‘sending.’” Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on April 26, 2023.

Pope Francis: Monks and nuns are ‘the beating heart’ of evangelization

Apr 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope pointed to the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and other cloistered religious who sustain the life of... Read more

More than 100,000 people attended the papal Mass in Juba, according to local authorities.

10 things to know from the latest survey on the Catholic Church today

Mar 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Here are the most important takeaways from a study on the state of the Catholic Church today. Read more

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Decline in vocations to the priesthood is worse where priests serve larger flocks, report says

Mar 3, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The study found that there are fewer new vocations in large dioceses where priests do not have a chance to... Read more

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Spanish bishops lament there are families who oppose religious vocations of their children

Dec 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

The bishops published an annual message in anticipation of Holy Family Day under the theme “The family, cradle of the... Read more