“We hope that young men will meet Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist and, in the words of Pope Benedict, “Let themselves be conquered by his gaze and his voice, and accept his pressing invitation to Follow Him that He will make them fishers of men!” 

With these words, Fr Anthony Denton, Director of Vocations, presented to Archbishop Hart, representatives of the Serra Clubs in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.  Serra is an international association of the faithful whose special mission is to pray for vocations in the Church.  Frank McCulloch, Peter Larkins, Frans Zylstra and Phillip Connors from Serra were at Solemn Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday morning 18th March to hand over, to Archbishop Hart, the Serra Monstrance for use throughout the Archdiocese over the next three months.

This beautiful Monstrance has been blessed and commissioned by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as a focus for Adoration and prayers for vocations.  It has previously been in the dioceses of Sale and Canberra/Goulburn and, after leaving Melbourne, will travel to Broken Bay and then on to New Zealand.

Whilst in the Melbourne Archdiocese the Monstrance will visit many parishes, some schools, the regional Seminary – Corpus Christi College, the Victorian Catholic Students Association retreat, and will also spend time in the Cathedral.  Archbishop Hart led the youth Holy Hour, Six30, on Thursday evening 22nd March using the Monstrance, and it was also the focus of prayer at Adoration in the Cathedral following the 1 pm Mass on Friday 23rd.

The Serra Clubs are responsible for bringing the Monstrance to Melbourne and Catholic Vocations (ph 9926 5733) has coordinated the program while it is here; if any parishes, schools or prayer groups would like to be included, there are still a few dates available. 

As Archbishop Hart said, on receiving the Monstrance, “Knowing that our Heavenly Father hears the prayers of His people, we look forward to an increase in priestly vocations for Melbourne following this initiative.”