Fr. Luis Romero, C.M., Vocation Director for the Vincentians Eastern Province, is exploring new and creative ideas when it comes to promoting Vincentian vocations. Soon after he was appointed to the to the ministry in 2020, he started to think and pray about what would be the best way to foster vocations.
“I thought about a way to involve laity in the vocation promotion in their local communities,” says Fr. Luis. He began to invite people he knew from the communities he ministered in his first year of priesthood to be part of what we now know as PASTORAL VOCACIONAL VICENTINA.
“We started this ministry with about 10 people,” says Fr. Luis, “a year later we have more than 50 people who are part of this group and are animating the communities to pray for vocations!”
Currently the Pastoral Vocacional Vicentina presence is in the East End of Long Island in the communities of Montauk, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays, Riverhead. “But we also have active laity in St. Anne’s Parish in Brentwood NY, St. Martha’s Uniondale, NY, St. Rita’s in Brooklyn, Sacred Heart of Jesus in South Philly, St. Mary’s in Greensboro, NC, and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Charlotte, NC,” says Fr. Luis.
The group meets once a month for formation, to pray together, to share experiences in the ministry and to plan activities for vocation awareness. Most of the meetings are done virtually, but they are committed to meeting in person at least once a year to get to better know one another.
Do you want to learn more about how you can help promote Vincentian Vocations in your community?
Please contact:
Fr. Luis Romero, C.M., Vocation Director
St. John’s University / St. Thomas More Church
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY 11439
vocations@stjohns.edu
