Best Practices
Welcome to our Best Practices section of the website. Here parishes, pastors, vocation committees, families, or anyone committed to vocations can learn about some of the programs going on across the diocese. And if you have an idea, or are running a vocational program, let us know.
St. John the Apostle, Bloomington
First Thursday Devotion
Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins on the eve of the first Friday of the month following Thursday's 5:30pm Mass and culminates with Benediction at 5:15pm on Friday, followed by 5:30 Mass. This time of prayer is particularly dedicated to for vocations for the diocese and from the parish. After Thursday evening Mass, young men from middle to high school are invited to come to the parish for dinner, a religious movie centered on the priesthood, and vocational encouragement.
Phone:
(812) 876-1974
E-Mail:
info@sjabloomington.org
Address:
4607 West State Road 46
Bloomington, Indiana 47404-9255
St. Vincent de Paul, Beford
"T" shirts were made that say: " FPI" FUTURE PRIEST OF INDIANAPOLIS AND "FRI" FUTURE RELIGIOUS OF INDIANAPOLIS. ALSO "PIT" PRIEST IN TRAINING AND ALSO "NIT" NUN IN TRAINING. These were given to younger parishioners, K-5 grade. Also, a week-long summer vocations camp was offered to 5th- 9th graders.
Phone:
812-275-6539
Email:
frricke@sbcglobal.net
Address:
1723 “I” St. Bedford, IN 47421
Our Lady of the Greenwood, Greenwood
First Thursday devotion is open to all high-school and older aged young men interested in priesthood or support of priesthood. A solemn holy hour of adoration is offered for vocations, as well as Mass, followed by dinner and conversation about priesthood.
High school and older aged young men participate in the Sacred Liturgy at special times of the Church year, by serving solemn masses in black cassocks. They serve along-side seminarians who train them how to serve.
Every 4th Sunday from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m., high school youth gather for a vocations talk, dinner, and praise and worship adoration.
A vocations collection is taken every year during vocations week, and a fund is created to support seminarians from the parish. Also, during vocations week, vocational talks are given to the students of the school, and all the weekend homilies for that week are vocational.
Contact Person: Fr. Rick Nagel
Phone:
317-888-2861
Email:
frrick@ol-g.org
St. Luke the Evangelist, Indianapolis
St. Luke’s created a vocations committee that met four to six times a year for an hour each. The committee purposes were: encourage all parishioners to promote vocations,
to pray each day for vocations, to be aware of different priestly and religious ministries, and to provide opportunities to develop vocation awareness. Committee members were:
pastor, associate pastor, DRE, youth minister, two parents of a priest, two Serra Club members, three other parishioners interested in vocations.
These are some of the actions of the committee:
St. Luke/North Deanery/SERV World Day of Prayer (Spring) Holy Hour in Chapel, Dinner, and Entertainment. Invited priests, religious sisters, high school youth, and parishioners of the North Deanery. First year (2007) approximately 70 attended. Second year (2008) approximately 60 attended).
Once a year 7th grade girls bus trip and tour to Mishawaka, Indiana to visit the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (St. Francis Hospital, Beech Grove & Indianapolis community) and the University of Notre Dame. St. Luke School, religious education, and home school students invited. Rosary prayed on way up. Rosaries made by 5th grade students for the 7th graders. Headed by Serra club members and coordinated with religion teachers.
Once a year 7th grade boys bus trip and tour to Saint Meinrad. St. Luke School, religious education, and home school students invited. St. Luke School, religious education, and home school students invited. Rosary prayed on way down. Rosaries made by 5th grade students for the 7th graders. Headed by Serra club members and coordinated with religion teachers.
First Thursdays for boys. Upper elementary group meets from 4 pm to 6:30 pm, includes dinner prepared by mothers. High School group meets from 7 pm to 9 pm, with snacks. Associate Pastor and Youth Minister headed up, with fathers of youth helping in activities, mothers of youth taking care of the meal.
Traveling statues (Mary, Joseph) and crucifixes kept for one week by the following groups:
Grade school lower grades
Grade school upper grades
Sunday Morning Religious Education Program
Family
School and religious education classes “Adopt a Seminarian” to pray for during the year. Each room sent letters of support to their seminarians.
“Holy Vocations, How Can I Help?” program jointly sponsored by our Adult Catechetical Team and Vocations Committee. Speakers came to speak to adults (and some youth attended as well). Religious sister, archdiocesan priest, religious priest, parents of a priest all spoke.
Mrs. Diane Schafer – St. Luke DRE
dschafer@stluke.org
Chris Moran – St. Luke Youth Minister
cmoran@stluke.org
Phone:
(317) 259-4373
Nativity of the Our Lord Jesus Christ, Indianapolis
Traveling Basket for Vocations (similar to the Traveling Chalice concept)
Participating parish families pick up the basket at a weekend Mass, take it home, and say prayers every day for one week for vocations with their family and return the basket at Mass the following weekend. Jim will request his wife to make 6 baskets. Julie will work with Fr Pat to initiate the program and will fill the baskets with rosaries and other supplies.
Contact: Joe Dwenger
Nativity Vocations Committee
1-317-862-2667