Vocations

Vocations in our archdiocese

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Vocations Office: Call (213) 637-7248; visit www.lavocations.org.
Called L.A., a collaboration of men and women who have answered God's call to priestly or consecrated life: Visit www.calledla.org.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles invites you to find your calling. We invite you to dare to ask the question, "What was I made for?" And we're here to help you persevere through the trials of discerning your future.

Discerning men

Curious about the best ways to discern? Thinking about diocesan or religious life? Have questions about a community? Call the Office for Vocations at (213) 637-7248, or email men@calledla.org.
(Pictured: Father Sam Ward, director of vocations. Call Father Sam at (213) 637-7248, or email frsward@la-archdiocese.org.)

Discerning women

Want some advice? Have questions about a community? Contact the Office for Women Religious at (213) 637-7559, or email women@calledla.org.
(Pictured: Sister Maria Carlos-Valdez, community of Esclavas de la Inmaculada Niña local superior. Call Sister Maria at (213) 637-7592, or email Sr.MCarlos@la-archdiocese.org.

Discerning?

New studies show over 500,000 of our youth and young adults have seriously considered a vocation.

We invite any man in the archdiocese discerning priesthood to join us for our monthly meetings for prayer, guidance, reflection, and fellowship to discern God’s call in one’s life.
The meetings have four locations to choose from:
Our Lady of the Angels/San Pedro regions: St. Anthony of Padua, at 7 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month.
San Gabriel Region: Trinitarians of Mary Convent, at 7 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month.
Santa Barbara Region: Our Lady of the Assumption, 3:30 p.m. every third Sunday of the month.
San Fernando Region: St Charles Borromeo, 7 p.m. every second Friday of the month.
Each group is facilitated by a priest who has been where you are. Consider attending the next discernment group night in your area. To RSVP, email men@calledla.org.

Vocations in our parish

Call Father Perry D. Leiker, St. Bernard Catholic Church pastor, if you have any questions or are trying to discern your vocation or journey through life.
Call Father Perry during office hours at (323) 255-6142, email: pleiker@stbernard-church.com, or follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MrDeano76.
"There is no more important work in the church today than calling and forming men for the priesthood," writes Archbishop José H. Gomez in "The world awaits holy priests." Through our prayers and through our ministries, we are here to make true men of God — in whom the men and women of our time can see Jesus Christ.

An invitation to consider a religious vocation

Father Perry D. Leiker, St. Bernard Catholic Church pastor, encourages the students of St. Bernard Catholic School, and all who may be watching this, to consider a religious vocation, be it a priest, brother, or sister.

Important vocation dates to note

National Vocation Awareness Week
November 7 to 13, 2021

National Vocation Awareness Week is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.

World Day for Consecrated Life
February 2, 2022 (celebrated in parishes Feb. 5 to 6, 2022)

In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II instituted World Day for Consecrated Life, a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So, too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations
May 8, 2022

The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life.

Vocations in the United States

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is pleased to highlight various ways that vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life can be promoted by featuring resources that are currently used by archdioceses and dioceses throughout the United States, or available through various organizations. Visit the USCCB's page for prayers and readings that the USCCB offers to assist you in the discernment process.
"Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision. ... Rather it is the response to a call and to a call of love." —Pope Francis, address to seminarians and novices, July 6, 2013.
The diaconate and priesthood
Religious men and women
Discerning?