Dear Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood,
Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasion of the next World Day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life, which will be celebrated on 3 May 2009, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, I want to invite all the People of God to reflect on the theme: Faith in the divine initiative - the human response. The exhortation of Jesus to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38) has a constant resonance in the Church. Pray! The urgent call of the Lord stresses that prayer for vocations should be continuous and trusting. The Christian community can only really “have ever greater faith and hope in God's providence” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 26) if it is enlivened by prayer.” (Keep Reading.)

Vocation Director shares his story. Rev. Joe Noonan, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago recently sat down the Purdue Alumnus Magazine to share his vocation story. Read the story of his path from the real estate business to the business of souls here.

A day in the life of Cardinal George. From a peanut butter (no jelly) sack lunch to saying mass for hundreds of college students who are looking to find meaning in a world filled with senseless violence, the life of the Archbishop of Chicago is anything but ordinary. Get a rare glimpse into his life here.

Meet the US Catholic Priesthood Class of 2009
WASHINGTON—The ordination class of 2009 claims 11 percent Asian-born men, though the percentage of Asian Catholics in the United States is only three percent. Six percent of the class is from Vietnam and two percent from the Philippines.

The percentage of Hispanics in the class is also 12 percent, though the percentage of Hispanic Catholics is estimated at 34 percent. Five percent of the class is from Mexico and one percent from Colombia.

Three percent are African American, the same percentage as African American Catholics in the United States. The majority of the class, 72 percent, is Caucasian, although Caucasians make up only 58 percent of U.S. Catholics. Read the full story.