By Catholic Philly Staff • Posted November 8, 2023

From holy hours to “holy hoops,” the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is marking National Vocation Awareness Week (Nov. 5-11) with a schedule of events inviting young people to heed the call to religious life.

“Vocation Awareness Week is an opportunity for all of us – as parishes, schools, and individuals – to reflect on the goodness of all vocations, whether to priesthood, consecrated life, or holy matrimony,” Father David Friel, director of the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, said.

The national observance, which kicked off on Sunday, Nov. 5, opened with a Mass celebrated by Father Friel at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in South Philadelphia.

On Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 faithful gathered in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at three separate Holy Hours for Vocations – one at St. Patrick in Malvern, one at St. Agnes in Sellersville, and one at St. Teresa of Calcutta, Schwenksville.

On Nov. 7 Archbishop Nelson Pérez along with seminarians and high school aged men from across the Archdiocese gathered for evening of prayer and fellowship to discuss discernment of vocations to the priesthood.

>>>PHOTO FEATURE: Archbishop Speaks to Young Men About Vocational Discernment

On Friday, Nov. 10 “Holy Hoops” will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster where the St. Charles Borromeo seminarians will take on the high school CYO Team of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

St. Helena Parish, located in the Olney section of Philadelphia, will host its sixth annual “The Call” event Saturday, Nov. 11 to coincide with the national observance. The event, led by the parish’s Vietnamese community, aims to inform about discernment of vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.

The week-long observance will conclude with special closing Masses Nov. 11-12 at St. Peter Church in West Brandywine.

The Vocation Office invites all faithful across the Archdiocese to attend any of the events to pray for, and support, vocations.

“My hope is that this week will be an opportunity to renew our efforts to build a culture of vocations in the Church of Philadelphia,” said Father Friel.

For more information and for resources from the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, visit heedthecall.org/events/vaw23/.