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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Week of February 15, 1999

News Highlights on Religious Vocations

All called to promote vocations:

The promotion of vocations must be addressed to every member of the Church, said a new Vatican document on vocations in Europe. The document, New Vocations for a New Europe, was written by the Congregation for Catholic Education and the congregations for religious and for Eastern-rite churches. The Vatican also released statistics which showed a dramatic increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life in Eastern Europe between 1978 and 1995, and a decline in the number of priests and religious in Western Europe.

Rector blames materialism for vocations shortage:

In sharp contrast to the situation in North America, East Africa is experiencing a boom in religious vocations. And the rector of a seminary in Tanzania thinks he knows why. Father Patrick Kung'alo believes the pervasive materialism on this side of the Atlantic has yet to tarnish his native land. "Materialism threatens that sense of sacrifice" that is essential to priesthood, he said.

Pope calls vocation 'a gift from God':

A vocation is not about choosing a way to serve God and others, it is about being chosen, Pope John Paul said. "Vocation is a gift of God," the pope said in his annual message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The gift of a vocation, the pope said, "is not about choosing, but being chosen; it is a response to a love that precedes and accompanies."

Tanzanian nuns are missionaries to America:

For four years, two religious women from Tanzania have been serving as missionaries to the Archdiocese of Portland. Holy Spirit Sisters Yusta Kiria and Catherine Msaky are pioneers in a new wave of missionaries who come from developing countries to the United States. "In the Church, we simply serve each other," Msaky said. "First you came to serve us in Africa and now we come to serve."

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