Pre-Launch: Preparing to Serve

The earliest stage of a ministry is pre-launch, when the ministry is essentially an idea or a vision. In addition to praying for the ministry, the individual should meet with the priest or pastor who would be administratively in charge of this effort to share what is on his or her heart about making the parish more vocation-minded.

Pray

Pray often for your pastor that he is willing to support a Vocation Ministry. Go before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to beg him to show you exactly how this ministry should look and to send those willing volunteers to help put all of God’s plans into action.

Meet with your pastor to receive his blessing on the ministry.

The potential ministry director should meet with the priest or pastor who would have administrative authority over the ministry to share what is on his or her heart about making the parish more vocation-minded. Having the priest’s blessing must be achieved before initiating any activity at the parish or involving parishioners.

For individuals who have never spoken one-on-one with the parish priest, this meeting could be somewhat intimidating. Here are some valuable tips to make that initial meeting a success.

• Be humble
• Keep it simple.
• Present the ministry concept.
• Ask for his ideas and permission.
• Offer an alternative.