Diocesan Vocations Rally

From the Catholic Times:

Youth vocations rally to follow May 26 ordination
By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN, Staff writer

The diocesan Office for Vocations will sponsor a diocesan-wide youth vocation rally on Saturday, May 26 in Springfield following the ordination Mass of Deacon Tyler Miller to the priesthood and Kevin Muniz to the diaconate.

The Mass will be held at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Lunch for all youth will be held at Little Flower Parish Center, 800 Stevenson Dr., immediately following the ordination Mass.

The rally will begin at 2 p.m. and will feature song and praise, and exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop George Lucas will be present for a portion of the rally. Diocesan seminarians as well as representatives of the Springfield Dominicans, the Peoria “Heading Avenue” Franciscans and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George of Alton will be there also.

Father John Titus, vocation director, said Deacon Miller and Muniz have been instrumental in bringing the event to life. “There are so many people that have never seen a young seminarian, priest or religious, but that does not mean that they are not out there,” Muniz said.

“They are real and the stories of their journeys to the priesthood and religious life are moving examples of youth willing to sacrifice it all for Christ and the people in order to change the world one soul at a time,” he said. “This rally is an opportunity for people to see these people, to hear their stories, while having a great time with youth from all across the diocese.”

Muniz said that while he has seen similar events, this vocation rally will be “something more.”

“I have never seen (one) like this where you can witness for yourself two young men (who are) devoting their lives to Christ at their ordination and then coming to celebrate at the rally followed by a Mass,” he said. “This will be a day that most will never forget.”

Many of the youth who are already signed up for the event are attending with parish youth groups who are arranging various means of transportation, Father Titus said. “We hope that we are establishing a diocesan tradition.”

Youth who plan to attend the vocation rally are required to submit parent permission slips. The slips are available on-line at www.getalifeinchrist.org. Sign up is available until the time of the event, which is free of cost.