31 Club promotes prayers for vocations

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 26, 2004

Prayers for vocations to priesthood, brotherhood and religious life are the purpose of the 31 Club that is sponsored by the Serra Club of Siouxland and the Council of Catholic Women.

The name 31 Club is derived from the 31 days of the month. People make a commitment to pray for vocations one day a month - such as the 5th or the 23rd - for a year. Members of the 31 Club can pray in a variety of ways such as by attending Mass, saying litanies or adoration for vocations.

Other forms of prayer that are part of the 31 Club are praying the rosary or attending the Stations of the Cross.

"We encourage everyone to pick a day and on that day is when they say the extra prayer, attend Mass or do something with the intention of vocations," said Cleo Harder, a member of the Serra Club.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women teamed up with Serra Club of Siouxland in 1997 to implement the club throughout the Diocese of Sioux City, which is focused not only on praying for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life but also current ones.

The mission of the Serra Club is to pray for vocations and to affirm existing vocations. Along with the 31 Club, the Siouxland Serra Club sponsors the vocations creativity contest every January. They also hold a special luncheon for religious sisters each year as well as a golf outing.

Every two years parishioners are asked to renew their commitment to pray for church vocations via the 31 Club. Parishioners should soon see a sign up poster in the back of their church. With listings from one to 31, individuals merely have to sign up on the day they plan to pray for vocations. In the past, it has been recommended that people sign up on a date they will remember such as their birthday or anniversary.

The main focus of the 31 Club this year is to encourage people to participate in Eucharistic adoration for vocations.

"We are asking that people increase the time of adoration to the Eucharist," said Harder. "We are in such need of people to become priests, deacons, women religious or anyone that can devote their life to helping in the church and in religion. At this time as in all times, we need the prayers."

Everyone in the Diocese of Sioux City is encouraged to participate.

"We've been very fortunate in our diocese that we've had young men and young women who have looked to the religious life as their vocation," said Harder. "We want to encourage that with our prayers as the future comes. We also want to encourage the people who have already chosen this as their life's work for the strength to continue that."