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Take a Card, Then Pray for Future Priests, Catholics Urged
By Christie L. Chicoine
Source: Catholic News Service
Published: Sunday, February 28, 2010 PHILADELPHIA (CNS)—Collect all 44 and pray for more.

When, God willing, the Philadelphia Archdiocese's current seminarians become ordained priests, Catholics could say they prayed for them by name.

The Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood is distributing business-style cards, each of which features the name of one of the 44 seminarians studying for the priesthood for the archdiocese at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

Below the name on the front of the card is a request for the cardholder to pray for the seminarian. A "Prayer for a Seminarian" is printed on the back of the card.

The cards were first distributed in the Philadelphia Archdiocese during Nov. 30-Dec. 4 productions of "Vianney," a one-man stage play depicting St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests declared by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 to be patron of all the world's priests.

"There are so many people who are in fact praying for vocations, but through these cards, there is a personalization—'I'm praying for this young man,'" said Father Christopher B. Rogers, director of Philadelphia's archdiocesan vocation office. "The prayer on the back of the card is a very personal prayer as well for the seminarian and can be an added incentive to the faithful."

Through the office's Web site, www.heedthecall.org, and a poster printed in The Catholic Standard & Times, the archdiocesan newspaper, Catholics "can see the face of who it is they are praying for," the priest said.

Father Rogers said the cards, which are distributed randomly following various vocation-related events, have been well-received by Catholics. One man recently had the luck of the draw when his card bore the name of a seminarian he knew from his parish, while others have asked for cards to give to homebound relatives and friends.


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