Bulletin and Website Notices for Parishes
Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter 2024 (to Pentecost 2024)
You can find here, as each year, some brief reflections drawn from the Mass readings for each Sunday or feast day throughout the months ahead, helping to prompt some consideration and prayer about vocations to priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life. By making use of them in parish Bulletins, websites or social media feeds, you might just be dropping a little suggestion to someone that God might be calling him or her to follow Him in a life of service to the Church.
The image at the top of the page is a famous painting by a French artist called James Tissot of the call of Saints Peter and Andrew, as we meet them in the Gospel of Mark, our lead Gospel each Sunday in 2024, Year B in the liturgical cycle. As Mark describes the scene, the men have cast their nets into the lake. Tissot shows them standing in the shallows, close to the shore, with their nets tied to their waists so that they can more easily pull in their catch. (This was how Tissot saw fishermen working on the Sea of Galilee in 19th century.) Jesus calls to them and they, without a word, leave their nets to follow him. We can almost see them stepping towards the shore as they loosen the nets, laying them down and going off behind Jesus. In a few moments, he will do the same for the brothers, James and John.
This Gospel passage (Mark 1:16-18) comes up in our Liturgy on the Third Sunday of the Year. However, for Mark, the relationship between Jesus and those who follow him – especially Peter – will be a constant theme. As we hear the story again this year, and let the call to follow Jesus echo in our own ears, we will be constantly challenged to reflect on how our “following” is going. Am I still responding as I should? Am I really listening to him call me? Am I ready to let go of the things I cherish or to which I cling for security?
The Call of the Fishermen can be a story we keep in our minds all this year, as disciples trying to live the Master’s ways. But especially as we consider that special call to leave all and follow him in the service of others, to be “fishers of men” as priests, deacons or in consecrated life. Who will you help hear the Master’s call to consider this radical way of serving and living the Gospel?
The brief reflections which follow can be copied into your weekly parish or school newsletter or other publications. You may want to copy and paste them onto your website as a banner message or news item, to place a link to this page as a whole there, or to use them as Facebook or Twitter posts on or around the relevant Sunday. We continue using the format we have used previously, streamlining the contact details etc. (Note that some posts may be a bit long for Twitter, but they can be edited by removing the email link and/or some of the contact information.)
Remember to tag us when you post (@priestsforscot) or use the hashtags #thinkvocations2024 or #vocation2024.
(Note: The texts below contain hyperlinks which may not be replicated in a “cut-and-paste” operation.)
Sundays in Ordinary Time
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 14th January 2024
Jesus invites the hesitant disciples to “Come and See”. Will you hear that invitation and go deeper in getting to know him and his call for you? Could you be invited to come and see what priesthood or religious life might be like for you? Talk to your local Vocations Director or visit the Priests for Scotland website or our Facebook pages (PFS or Vocation Network Scotland) for more.
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 21st January 2024
“Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.” Is Jesus making the same invitation to you to leave everything in order to serve him and his people? Speak to your local Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland or check out Facebook (PFS or Vocation Network Scotland) for more.
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 28th January 2024
“He taught them with authority” Jesus mission of proclaiming the Kingdom goes on the preaching of the Church today. Could He be inviting you to share in that mission, to share the power of Christ’s word with people? Contact your local Vocations Director or Priests for Scotland (www.pfs.org.uk) for advice and support.
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 4th February 2024
“Let us go elsewhere, to preach there too, for that is why I came.” Jesus knows his mission is to proclaim the Kingdom without limit. Could you give your life to that mission of healing and teaching as priest, deacon or in consecrated life? Call your Vocations Director or contact Priests for Scotland.
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 11th February 2024
“Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” (2nd reading) The priestly and consecrated life is one where everything is given over to God’s glory. Could you give that gift? Speak to your local Vocations Director or visit the Priests for Scotland website. See these Facebook pages for more: PFS or Vocation Network Scotland.
Sundays in Lent
First Sunday of Lent – 18th February 2024
Mark’s description of Jesus’ temptations today is very short. More important, it seems, is the start of his preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom. Do you feel called to bring people Good News, a message that we can overcome our sinfulness and grow in God’s grace? Consider the priesthood, diaconate or religious life. Call your Diocesan Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland, or visit our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland).
Second Sunday of Lent – 25th February 2024
“This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Are you listening to him? Is he calling you to serve his people in priesthood or consecrated life? Speak to your local Vocations Director or visit the Priests for Scotland website or our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland).
Third Sunday of Lent – 3rd March 2024
“He could tell what a man had in him.” Jesus knows each of us and what we are capable of. He knows our gifts and makes up for what we lack. He knows the gifts you could give, the gift you could be, to the priesthood. Do you? Speak to a Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland or visit our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland).
Fourth Sunday of Lent – 10th March 2024
“Whoever lives by the truth comes out into the light.” Could God be calling you to step out into the light and be seen as a person of faith, one who can inspire faith in others too as a priest, deacon or in consecrated life? Speak to your Diocesan Vocations Director or visit the Priests for Scotland website or our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland).
Fifth Sunday of Lent – 17th March 2024
Some Greek visitors asked to see Jesus. As a priest, deacon or religious you might be the person who brings people to Jesus, to see and know him, through your life, your work, your preaching. Speak to your Diocesan Vocations Director, or contact Priests for Scotland for more information.
Palm Sunday – 24th April 2024
“The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue.” Jesus gave everything out of love for us. Are you being called to reflect the Master’s sacrifice by offering yourself as a priest, a deacon or religious? Speak to your Vocations Director, visit the Priests for Scotland website or have a look at the Facebook pages PFS or VocationNetworkScotland for advice.
Sundays of the Easter Season
Easter Sunday – 31st March 2024
“You have died, and now the life you live is hidden with Christ in God” (2nd Reading) Discover your hidden life in Christ. Let him reveal it to you and let it be seen by others. As a priest you couild help them find their new life too! Visit our website or Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more information.
Second Sunday of Easter – 7th April 2024
“As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” The Risen Jesus sends his disciples out to continue his mission and to share his power. What part are you called to play in that ongoing mission of mercy? Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland via our website or visit our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland).
Third Sunday of Easter – 14th April 2024
“He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Are you being called to help people recognise and understand God’s word? Could you be one who breaks open God’s word for people as a priest, deacon or consecrated person? Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland via our website or see Facebook, PFS or VocationNetworkScotland.
Fourth Sunday of Easter – 21st April 2024
Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations, “Good Shepherd Sunday”. Pray for those discerning a call to priesthood or religious life. Is that you? Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland via our website or see the vocations Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more information.
Fifth Sunday of Easter – 28th April 2024
“Our love is not to be just words, but something real and active.” (First Reading) How will you let your love for God and others become more real and active? Perhaps by answering the call Go is making to you to priesthood, diaconate or consecrated life? Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland or visit our website or Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more information.
Sixth Sunday of Easter – 5th May 2024
“You chose not me; no, I chose you.” Has the Lord chosen you to share in the mission of the Church as a priest, deacon or in consecrated life? Have you been hiding from it or think you’re not good enough? Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland via our website or see the Facebook pages PFS or VocationNetworkScotland for more.
Ascension of the Lord – Thursday 9th May 2024
“Proclaim the Good News to all creation!” Are you being called to preach, baptise and teach as a priest, a deacon or in apostolic life? Know, as the Gospel today says, that Jesus will be working with you as you go. Contact your Vocations Director, Priests for Scotland or visit our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more.
Seventh Sunday of Easter – 12th May 2024
“They prayed: ‘Show us which of these you have chosen’.” (1st reading) The apostles knew the need to pray for guidance to know whom the Lord had chosen to join their mission and ministry. We too have to pray, but we also have to open to the possibility it could be me whom he is choosing. Contact a Vocations Director, Priests for Scotland or visit our Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more.
Pentecost Sunday – 19th May 2024
“There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service, but always for the same Lord.” What kind of service do your gifts suggest? Perhaps you could offer them as a priest, deacon or in religious life… Speak to your Vocations Director, contact Priests for Scotland or see our website or Facebook pages (PFS or VocationNetworkScotland) for more.
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