Vocations Director S. Matthew Gray to Lead Eucharistic Revival Novena to Saint John Vianney for Vocations
WASHINGTON, DC — As the United States Military energetically seeks more Catholic priests to serve as active-duty chaplains in all branches, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), has chosen a more powerful approach by invoking divine intervention through prayer. Beginning Wednesday, July 27, and continuing through Thursday, Aug. 4, Vocations Director Father S. Matthew Gray will lead the faithful in an online novena. The term “novena” comes from the Latin word for “nine”—“novem.” A novena is series of prayers for special petitions, said for nine consecutive days. While novenas may be offered to any one of a number of saints, this one will implore the intercession of Saint John Vianney (1786-1859), the patron saint of parish priests. The timing coincides with the three-year Eucharistic Revival, an initiative approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last November to rekindle awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharistic Revival, which began on June 19, the Feast of Corpus Christi, will culminate in 2024 with a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN.
