Let us be good sheep in imitation of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the High Priest, the bishops are the successors of the apostles, the pastors are their helpers and the parishioners are the sheep.

Therefore, as the good sheep of our parish, let us hear and follow the voice of our shepherds through their homilies, Bible classes, counseling and advice. Let us take the spiritual food given by our pastors through regular and active participation in the Holy Mass and by frequenting the sacraments, prayer services, renewal programs and missions.

Let us cooperate with our pastors by giving them positive suggestions for the welfare of the parish, encouraging them in their duties and by praying for them. Let us also cooperate in the activities of various councils, ministries and parish associations.

Also let us pray for vocations to priestly and religious life so that we may have more holy and Spirit-filled shepherds to lead, feed and protect the Catholic community. Christian thinking on vocation has been summarized in one profound saying: “All are priests, some are ministerial priests, but only one is the Priest.” Christ Jesus is the Priest in the full sense because he is the mediator between God and humanity who offered himself as a unique sacrifice on the cross.

The universal priesthood of all believers, the sharing of all the baptized in the priesthood of Christ, has received special emphasis since Vatican II. Those who are called to make a lifelong commitment to serve as ordained ministers share the ministerial priesthood of Jesus. On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations we are asked to encourage and pray for our young men to respond to God’s call to serve his Church in the ministerial priesthood.