Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered at St. Peter's Square on the occasion of World Day of Vocations, 2013:
Look! I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the Lord’s voice, in a desire, in a worry, did he invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard him? ... Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? We must bet on youth for the great ideals. Do you think this? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be brave! Be brave! Ask him this!
Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community.... This is why Jesus said: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest”, that is, God the Father, “to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.
Sr. Maureen Catabian RGS, coordinator of the Women, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (WJPIC) Office of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippine Province, participated in the international monitoring mission for the May 2010 elections. A total of 86 foreign delegates representing 11 countries participated in the Mission. They were accompanied by several local delegates. The group visited the “hotspots” identified by the COMELEC especially during elections namely NL-Abra, CL-Pampanga/Tarlac, NCR-Tondo, SL- Quezon / Bicol, WV-Iloilo, ARMM-Lanao, SM-Davao del Sur and NM-Surigao. Sr. Maureen and the other members of the team were in Abra May 8-12 to monitor the elections.
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RELIGIOUS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD - RGS (Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd)
1043 Aurora Blvd. 1108 Quezon City, Philippines Tel. 00 63 (2) 8913 64 07 - Fax 00 63 (2) 8913 6435 www.goodshepherdsisters.org.ph