Amid young men’s increased interest in religion, vocations office renews efforts for fostering discernment to the priesthood
DETROIT — The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
This is the central challenge that Fr. Matthew Hood, director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, hopes to address with a newly focused prayer campaign.
Initiated on Sept. 27 – Priesthood Sunday – the campaign invites all the faithful in southeast Michigan to unify archdiocesan-wide efforts in one common prayer, centered on the image of Christ, the Merciful and Faithful High Priest.
This campaign also begins at a time when interest in religion has spiked among young men for the first time in nearly a decade. A recent Gallup poll has shown that from 2024-2025, 42% of men said religion is “very important” in their lives; this figure is up from 28% in 2022-2023 and is at its highest point in 25 years.
Fr. Hood, in his fourth month as vocations director, is also director and chaplain of Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, where he has witnessed an increase in religious fervor firsthand. He’s hopeful of the impact this will have on vocations.
“The important place to start is always turning to the Lord and putting Jesus first,” Fr. Hood told Detroit Catholic. “Jesus says, ‘Ask the Master of the harvest to send forth laborers into the vineyard and into the harvest,’ so that’s what we need to do.”
“There are so many efforts across our large diocese recognizing the need to pray for priestly vocations,” Fr. Hood added. “If we want there to be an increase in vocations, we need to first turn to Jesus, and this image can be that uniting element to bring us into that focus.”
Prayer cards and posters have been made available to parishes across the archdiocese to serve as tools for and reminders of the importance of praying for priestly vocations, both individually and within established prayer groups.
In addition to joining in prayer, the faithful can help promote vocations by encouraging and taking seriously the faith of men who want to pursue a closer relationship with God and His will for their lives, Fr. Hood said.
“Often, when we bring up the topic of priesthood, it can almost be somewhat of a joke,” Fr. Hood said. “But to really say, ‘I think this is something worth considering for you,’ can be incredibly helpful.”
Over the coming months, the vocations office will also be hosting regional St. Andrew Dinners where men who are open to considering a vocation can come together, meet seminarians and Fr. Hood, and learn about the formation process and priestly life. These dinners will lead up to the annual Evening Prayer with the Archbishop, to be held in January, at which men considering discernment may begin or continue a conversation about a possible vocation.
“I would encourage everyone who recognizes the need for an increase in priestly vocations to take seriously this campaign and this challenge, and to be able to share it with those they know.”
A Prayer for Priestly Vocations
O Jesus, our merciful and faithful high priest, you have given to your church the gift of the priesthood to continue your ministry of reconciliation in every generation and to share in the mission of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth.
We praise you in your goodness, O Lord, for the priests who baptize us, who forgive our sins, who teach us, who preside at our weddings and funerals, and who serve as faithful shepherds and models of your Sacred Heart.
You have told us that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
So, therefore Lord, we pray that you might send us an abundance of future priestly vocations within the Archdiocese of Detroit. Send us holy, zealous, and merciful men so that our local church might grow.
Amen.
