The Fourth Sunday of Easter, or widely known as Good Shepherd Sunday is the World Day of Vocations. There will be a special collection for the work of vocations, in supporting the education and formation of seminarians and permanent diaconate program in our Diocese.  

Holy and provident Father, You are the Lord of the vineyard and the harvest and You give each a just reward for their work. In your design of love You call men and women to work with You for the salvation of the world. We thank You for Jesus Christ, your living Word, who has redeemed us from our sins and is among us to assist us in our poverty. Guide the flock to which You have promised possession of the kingdom. Send new workers into your harvest and set in the hearts of pastors faithfulness to your plan of salvation, perseverance in their vocation and holiness of life.
Christ Jesus, who on the shores of the Sea of Galilee called the Apostles and made them the foundation of the Church and bearers of your Gospel, in our day, sustain your people on its journey. Give courage to those whom You call to follow You in the priesthood and the consecrated life, so that they may enrich God's field with wisdom of your Word. Make them docile instruments of your love in everyday service of their brothers and sisters.
Spirit of holiness, who pour out your gifts on all believers and, especially, on those called to be Christ's ministers, help young people to discover the beauty of the divine call. Teach them the true way of prayer, which is nourished by the Word of God. Help them to read the signs of the times, so as to be faithful interpreters of your Gospel and bearers of salvation.
Mary, Virgin who listened and Virgin of the Word of God made flesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the Lord, so that, having been welcomed and meditated upon, it may grow in our hearts. Help us to live like You the beatitudes of believers and to dedicate ourselves with unceasing charity to evangelizing all those who seek your Son. Grant that we may serve every person, becoming servants of the Word we have heard, so that remaining faithful to it we may find our happiness in living it. Amen

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday in the Catholic Church. It's a day dedicated to special prayers for vocations. During the Eucharist, a passage from the Gospel of John is read where Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-10).The Church established the practice of praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Since then, one of the Sundays in the Easter season, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, has been dedicated to praying for vocations.It's important to ask God to bless many young people with the gift of vocation. We need to pray for the youth so that they can bravely heed God's call. We should also pray that there be no dearth of good shepherds who will fearlessly lay down their lives for the sheep. We must not forget the pastors who have already answered God's call. These are the priests and religious who follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd and give their lives every day. In the privacy of their rectories or convents, they offer their suffering, loneliness, and spiritual struggles for the people. They follow the Good Shepherd, and like Him, lay down their lives for the sheep.

Just a reminder that Our Lady of Good Council Feast Day is Friday, April 26th. The CWL will be celebrating this Feast Day with Mass beginning at 9:15 am. Coffee and sweets to follow.

NOTRE DAME COLLEGIATE NEWSA - pril 2024

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I have noted down the following dates for Holy Communion Preparation in Vulcan:

- April 14, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Vulvan Church
- April 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Vulvan Church
- April 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Vulvan Church
- May 5, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Vulvan Church

The First Holy Communion Mass will be held on May 19, 2024, at 9:00 AM at the Vulvan Church.