A new push for vocations has been launched in Florida, where parishes have started hanging that great recruitment poster you see on the left.

Details on a vocations workshop, from the Florida Catholic:

Pope John Paul II’s legacy of an energized youth movement in the church and other factors have come together to create a “new moment” in vocations awareness that must be seized.

Members of parish vocations teams throughout the Diocese of St. Petersburg heard that message Jan. 26 from Father Michael Muhr, spiritual director at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.

“What is the best way to fertilize this ground?” Father Muhr asked. “Honor the possibility that people in our midst are being called. They are in our families and parishes, and we need to encourage and respond positively to their searching and discernment.”

Father Muhr gave the keynote speech at a workshop at Bethany Center titled “Vocations: A Response to Stewardship,” hosted by the diocesan Vocations Enrichment Team. More than 20 parishes were represented.

Citing a recent survey, Father Muhr noted three things that define youths’ attitudes about serving the church:

• a strong feeling of connection with Pope John Paul II as an example of authenticity;

• vibrant youth movements, such as Life Teen, that focus on the Eucharist;

• desire to build a better church in response to the sexual abuse crisis.

Families play a crucial role in vocations as they are often the first forum in which a young person will mention an interest in religious life, he said.

“How do we react when our children want to be a priest?” he said. “It can be subtly negative: ‘It’s a lonely life,’ or ‘It’s a sacrifice, but we support you.’ If families’ reaction were, ‘Wow, that would be a great thing to do with your life,’ then that puts a whole different spin on the idea and transfers positive messages. Kids pick up on our attitudes about religious life, so it’s something we need to reflect on.”

There’s more, so check out the link. And pray for vocations.