you sent your Son,
born of the Virgin Mary to be our Savior.
He preached the good news of our salvation,
healed the sick and cast out evil.
Now as crucified and risen Lord,
he pours out on us the Holy Spirit of adoption,
making us your sons and daughters.
Through the Church, he calls us to accept the gospel
and to share in your own divine life.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life for all people.
In your mercy, you do not abandon us.
In every age,
you raise up men and women
to offer their lives for the sake of the gospel
and the work of the Church.
We beg you, therefore,
grant to this local Church of Paterson
an increase of vocations
to the priesthood and the religious life.
Give us courageous and faithful men
to serve as worthy priests.
Bless us with generous and zealous
men and women willing to seek holiness
in consecrated life.
May we rejoice in an abundance
of vocations from our families
so that we may yield a rich harvest of good works
for your honor and glory.
We ask this in the name of Jesus who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
+Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli, S.T.D., S.S.L.,D.D.
Bishop of Paterson