Following the Shepherd

Nine Days of prayer for our Shepherds A Novena of Readings, Prayers and Reflections in Preparation for Good Shepherd Sunday 2016

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday – the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On this Sunday, the Church encourages all of us to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

Good Shepherd Sunday also provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the gift and the mystery of the Priesthood. Priests are called the follow the example of Christ, the High Priest and Good Shepherd. But how do Priests live out this lofty calling in the communities to whom they minister? How we do encounter Christ the Good Shepherd in the person of our parish priest, assistant priest or chaplain?

To answer these questions and to provide some focus to our prayers for Vocations, Priests for Scotland suggest we take some time to consider the word ‘Shepherds’ - for every letter of this word provide us with some insight into the nature of the Priestly vocation. We believe that our Priests, our shepherds, are –

• Called to Serve, • Called to Heal • Called to Evangelise • Called to Pray • Called to bring Hope • Called to Educate • Called to Reconcile • Called to Dedicate themselves to God alone • Called to Search for the lost, the dispossessed and the marginalised.

Retrieving the venerable practice of the Novena, it’s suggested that as they journey towards Good Shepherd Sunday, parish communities, schools and other faith groups take one day to reflect on each of these qualities or elements of ordained ministry. For each day you will find a scripture reflection and an insight from either or Pope Benedict. On each day, you will also be requested to pray for Vocations in one of our eight dioceses here in Scotland.

Please take this opportunity to pray for Vocations in our country for, as the Lord reminds us ‘the harvest is rich but the labourers are few’ (Matthew 9:37).

Yours in Christ,

Bishop President of the National Vocations Commission Day 1 – Our Shepherds SERVE

Prayer Intention: Scripture

Our Shepherds are called to Service. the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to Today we pray for Vocations in serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many the (Matthew 28:20)

Pope Francis

The Priest must be a dutiful servant who listens to people’s need and builds a church whose doors are wide open, offering refuge for sinners, a home for the homeless, comfort for the sick and God’s word and joy for the young (Homily at Chrism Mass 17th April 2014)

Prayer: Did You Know

Thank you, Lord, for all your gifts. Help us to live each day with The Diocese of Aberdeen covers a joy and humility. Give us Priests who will be totally dedicated to third of the landmass of Scotland! serving you in the Diocese of Aberdeen and throughout the whole of Scotland. Amen.

Day 2 – Our sHepherds HEAL

Prayer Intention: Scripture

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, Today we pray for Vocations in and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, the and you will find rest for your souls.

Pope Francis

The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm hearts; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. You have to heal people’s wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.

Heal the wounds…

Prayer: Did You Know Father, we are your people. Jesus calls us to heal the broken- It is thought that the diocese of hearted, to dry the tears of those who mourn and to give hope to Dunkeld was constituted as far those who despair. Call forth from among us priests, sisters and back as the middle of the ninth deacons for the Diocese of Dunkeld and for the whole of Scotland. century! With our hearts continue to love your people. Amen

Day 3 – Our shEpherds EVANGELISE

Prayer Intention: Scripture

Our Shepherds are called to Evangelise – to share Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, the Good News of the Gospel! baptizing them in the name of the Father and of Today we pray for Vocations in the Diocese of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Argyll and the Isles )

Pope Francis

Evangelization consists in drawing near to those who feel distant from God and the Church, those who are fearful or indifferent, and saying to them: “The Lord, with great respect and love, is also calling you to be a part of his people” (Evangelii Gaudium, 113). Prayer: Did You Know

Bishop Brian McGee of Argyll and Lord God, you so loved the world that you sent your only son, the Isles is Scotland’s newest Jesus, to bring eternal life to those who believe in him. May your Bishop! Bishop Brian only became a Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen generous men and women to Bishop in February of this year. continue his mission in the and the Isles and throughout Scotland. Amen

Day 4 – Our shePherds PRAY

Prayer Intention: Scripture

A Priest must be a man of prayer. “…Jesus often withdrew to lonely

places and prayed” Today we pray for Vocations in the Diocese of (Luke 5:16) Paisley.

Pope Francis

When we were called, we were not canonised. Each priest and religious

continues to be a person in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness, a person who must devote time to prayer (Address to Kenyan Seminarians 27.11.15)

Prayer: Did You Know We pray that God may give to His Church today many more The Diocese of Paisley is priests after His own heart. We pray that they may be worthy about to hold a Diocesan representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd. We pray that the Synod! This will be the first Diocese of Paisley and the entire Church in Scotland may be Diocesan Synod in Scotland in blessed with Priests who devote themselves to prayer. at least 50 years! Day 5 – Our shepHerds bring HOPE

Prayer Intention: Scripture

Our Shepherds are called …..the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are to bring hope. Today we pray looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

for Vocations in the Diocese He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead of Motherwell. (Mark 16:6)

Pope Francis

Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. …..With Jesus we can do great things; he will give us the joy of being his disciples, his witnesses…. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals” (Homily at the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation, 2013).

Prayer: Did You Know Heavenly F ather, there are times when we feel helpless and The diocese of Motherwell was erected on times when we feel weak. Through your priests, remind us once 25 May 1947 along with the Diocese of more of the hope offered by your Gospel. We pray that the Paisley. The two dioceses remain suffrage

Diocese of Motherwell and the Church throughout Scotland will sees under the . On be blessed with Shepherds who will bring the Lord’s hope to the 29 April 2014 - Pope Francis appointed Joseph Toal as communities they serve. Amen. fifth

Day 6 – Our shephErds EDUCATE

Prayer Intention: Scripture Our Shepherds are called to teach us the way of Jesus took pity on them because they were like Jesus. sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to Today we pray for Vocations in the Archdiocese teach them at some length (Mark 6:34) of Glasgow.

Pope Francis

Priests have the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ

the teacher. Impart to everyone the word of God which you have received with joy! (Homily at Ordinations 22nd April 2013)

Prayer: Did You Know Eternal God, bless our Shepherds in the Archdiocese of The Patron Saint of the Archdiocese is Glasgow and throughout Scotland. Grant that they always Saint Kentigern. A Saint of the fifth century may be examples of your Truth and guide us always on the who preached the Gospel in the path to you. We ask these things of You our Eternal Priest. Strathclyde area, Kentigern is also known Amen. as ‘Mungo’.

Day 7 – Our shepheRds RECONCILE

Prayer Intention: Scripture Our Shepherds are called to bring All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself reconciliation and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God

Today we pray for Vocations in the was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their . trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2nd Corinthians 5:18-19)

Pope Francis

Someone who comes to the confessional is seeking comfort, pardon and peace. Let him find in you a father who embraces him and says, ‘God loves you’. Don’t get tired of forgiving. Be men of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation.

(Homily February 9th 2016)

Prayer: Did You Know God our Father, You have chosen men in the The present bishop of the diocese is the Right Diocese of Gall oway and throughout Scotland Reverend . Bishop Nolan's appointment to be faithful shepherds after your Son's was announced on 22 November 2014 by Pope Francis. Heart. Help them to serve Your people with He received episcopal on 14 February humility and charity. Help them to be 2015 from Archbishop . The Apostolic instruments of your reconciling love. We ask Archbishop Antonio Mennini and Bishop this through our Lord Jesus Christ, the High Emeritus Maurice Taylor served as principal co- Priest and Good Shepherd. Amen consecrators

Day 8 – Our shepherDs DEDICATED

Prayer Intention: Scripture Our shepherds are called to be As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon dedicated! Today we pray for and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for Vocations in the Archdiocese of they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus Saint Andrew’s and Edinburgh said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once

they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)

Pope Benedict XVI

Dear priests of Scotland, you are called to holiness and to serve God’s people by modelling your lives on the mystery of the Lord’s cross………Dedicate yourselves to God alone and you will become shining examples to you ng men of a holy, simple and joyful life: they, in their turn, will surely wish to join you in your single-minded service of God’s people. (Homily Bellahouston, Glasgow, 16th September 2010)

Did You Know Prayer:

Heavenly Father bless the Archdiocese of Edinburgh Before being appointed Archbishop, Archbishop and the Church throughout Scotland with Priests who Cushley served in the Vatican Dipolmatic Service. At are dedicated to serving your people. May they be various times he was based in Rome, shining examples of a holy, simple and joyful life. Burundi, Portugal, the United Nations in New Amen York and South Africa. Day 9 – Our shepherdS SEARCH

Prayer Intention: Scripture

Our Shepherds are called to search for What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and the lost. one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety- nine on the hills and go to look for the one that Today we pray for Vocations to the wandered off? Priesthood throughout Scotland. (Matthew 18:12)

Pope Francis All of us need to go beyond the four walls of the Church and go out and find those on the outskirts of life. (Homily 12th February 2015)

Prayer: Jesus, Good Shepherd, raise up in all parish communities, priest and deacons, religious, consecrated lay people and missionaries according to the needs of the whole world, which You love and want to save.

We entrust to You in a particular way our country. Direct Your loving gaze to our many talented and gifted young people and invite them to follow You. Help them to understand that only in You they can achieve their fulfilment. Amen

"I am often asked, especially by young people, why I became a priest. Maybe some of you would like to ask the same question. Let me try briefly to reply. I must begin by saying that it is impossible to explain entirely. For it remains a mystery, even to myself. How does one explain the ways of God? Yet, I know that, at a certain point in my life, I became convinced that Christ was saying to me what he had said to thousands before me: 'Come, follow me!' There was a clear sense that what I heard in my heart was no human voice, nor was it just an idea of my own. Christ was calling me to serve him as a priest.

And you can probably tell that I am deeply grateful to God for my vocation to the priesthood. Nothing means more to me or gives me greater joy that to celebrate Mass each day and to serve God's people in the Church. That has been true ever since the day of my ordination as a priest. Nothing has ever changed this, not even becoming Pope."

Pope St John Paul II September 1987

Considering a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or consecrated life? Please contact your Diocesan Vocations Director –

Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh Diocese of Aberdeen Rev. Michael John Galbraith Rev. Keith Herrera St James' Cathedral Clergy House 17 The Scores 20 Huntly Street ST ANDREWS ABERDEEN

KY16 9AR AB10 1SH T:01334 472856 T: 01224 640 160 [email protected] [email protected]

Diocese of Argyll and The Isles Diocese of Dunkeld Rev. Michael Hutson Rev. Colin Golden St. Andrew’s Our Lady of Lourdes Columshill Street Struan Road Rothesay Perth ISLE OF BUTE PH1 2JP PA20 0HX

01700 502 047 T: 01738 626979 [email protected]

Diocese of Galloway Archdiocese of Glasgow

Rev. William Boyd Rev. Ross Campbell

St. Mary’s Turnbull Hall

15 West Rd 15 Southpark Terrace

IRVINE Glasgow

KA12 8RE G12 8LG T: 01294 279 130 T: 0141 339 4315 [email protected] [email protected]

Diocese of Motherwell Diocese of Paisley

Rev. Brian Lamb Rev. John H. Morrison St Joseph’s St. Patrick’s Mayberry Place 5 Orangefield Place Blantyre Greenock South Lanarkshire PA15 1YX G72 9DA T: 01475 720223 T: 01698 823896 [email protected] [email protected]

If you require additional copies of this material or would a digital version please contact Fr. John Morrison. Simply e-mail [email protected]