Prayer for Vocations
Jesus, high priest and Redeemer forever, we beg you to call young men and women to your service, as priests and religious. May they be inspired by the lives of dedicated priests, brothers and sisters. Give to parents the grace of generosity and trust toward you and their child so that their sons and daughters may be helped to
choose their vocation in life with wisdom and freedom. O God, you have called us to salvation and have sent your Son to establish the Church for this purpose, and you have provided the sacred ministers. The harvest is ever ready but the laborers are scarce. Inspire our youth to follow Jesus by serving Your People.
Amen.

Uplift Your Priest
The St. Bart's Vocations Ministry is participating in an "Uplift Your Priest" campaign on April 12-23.  We will be praying a Hail Mary before every Mass in this time frame as a sign of love and support from the whole community, and individuals are encouraged to show their support in other ways through prayers, kind words, cards, and small gifts as each is able to give.  Ideas from Vocations Ministry include:

• Send spiritual bouquets to your priest
• Send him drawings or paintings by children
• Pray, fast, and offer sacrifices for him
• Send him a gift card from Amazon or a restaurant
• Make a family video message/song of affirmation for him
• Post a picture of your family with your priest
• Send financial support to the parish, if able
• Hold a “Parade of Love” for him
• Challenge or tag 3 families/individuals to pray a Rosary for your priest on Social Media
• Invite him and other people or families for a digital “gathering”
• Write him a letter thanking him for his sacrifices

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Apoyo a tu Sacerdote
El Ministerio de Vocaciones de San Bartolomé participará en una campaña "Apoyo a tu Sacerdote" del 12 al 23 de Abril. Rezaremos un Ave María antes de cada Misa en este período de tiempo como un signo de amor y apoyo de toda la comunidad, y se alienta a las personas a mostrar su apoyo de otras maneras a través de oraciones, palabras amables, tarjetas y pequeños obsequios como cada uno es capaz de dar. Las ideas del Ministerio de Vocaciones incluyen:

• Envíe ramos espirituales a tu sacerdote
• Envíe dibujos o pinturas de sus niños a tu sacerdote.
• Ofrece oraciones, ayunos, y sacrificios por él.
• Envíale una tarjeta de regalo de Amazon o de un restaurante.
• Prepare un video con un mensaje familiar / una canción de afirmación para él
• Publica una foto de su familia con su sacerdote
• Envíe apoyo financiero a la parroquia, si puede
• Organizar un "Desfile de amor" para él
• Desafíe y etiquete a 3 familias / personas a rezar un rosario en las redes sociales
• Invítelo a él y a otras personas o familias a una "reunión" digital
• Escríbele una carta agradeciéndole por sus sacrificios.
   

The purpose of the Vocations Ministry is to use our love and understanding of our Catholic faith to inspire and nurture every parishioner to respond to God’s call to their personal vocation as single, married or religious life. 

Vocations Ministry Members

Sponsor - Maggie Lopez
Mark and Pam Wegenka
Nadia Simmons
Dafne Reyes
Marvin and Judy Marek

For more information on fostering vocations, contact Mark Wegenka: mawegenka@gmail.com

For more information, visit: www.houstonvocations.com

For the members of our parish - the young men currently in seminary and the young women in religious life:

Seminarian
Michael James Arienza
Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving, TX

Seminarian
Ryan Berger
Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving, TX

Prayer for Priests:

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.

Prayer for Vocations:

Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You. Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future. Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ's Mission of love and justice.  Bless the Church of Saint Bartholomew by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve Your people as Sisters, Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers. Inspire us to know You betterand open our hearts to hear Your call. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For health and safety reasons the Traveling Icons will remain in place at the church until we can safely pass it around again. Please continue to pray for our Priests and for Vocations. Thank you,
-Saint Bartholomew Vocations Ministry

Bring the Traveling Icon or Traveling Chalice into your home for one week!

* The Holy Family icon will be used to pray for the vocation of Sacramental Marriage and Chaste Single Life.

* The Traveling Chalice will be used to pray for the vocation of the Priesthood and Religious Life.

Please sign up below and choose which vocation you will be praying for and the Mass time that you attend. Each will come with a carrying case with daily prayers you can offer or you may pray your own.

Upon arriving at mass, please let the Mass coordinator AND acolyte know that you are there to receive the Holy Family icon or the chalice.  During Mass they will call you to the front and present you with the icon or the chalice. After Mass go to the sacristy (ministers room) and retrieve the carrying case to transport the icon or chalice to and from your home.  

The icon and chalice are to be returned to the church the following Saturday (between 3:30 and 4:30) and should be given to Sister Lucy or Sister Raphaella.  Thank you for taking the time to pray for vocations.

Click the link below to sign up to take the Icon/Chalice:

Please pray for Brother Anthony Freeman, L.C., who passed away on April 2, 2018. He was 30 years old. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
http://www.regnumchristi.org/sites/in-memoriam-anthony-freeman-lc/
Brother Anthony published a book shortly before his death, so his joyful and generous spirit can still touch hearts and lives today!