The North Staffordshire Promotion Group was started in 1988 by Fr Seamus Gilroy. Fr Gilroy was the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Birmingham at the time and was aware of the large geographical area the diocese covered and his inability to be able to be in all places at once, to help promote vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.
Fr Gilroy’s vision was to have a group of people (clergy, religious and laity) in each deanery of the diocese, who would be willing to help him in his work of promoting vocations.
Over the years, the group has facilitated prayer rotas and discussion days as well as schools and parish events, including a two-year programme, during which a simple wooden chalice moved from parish to parish, along with a specially produced folder of prayer resources aimed at encouraging parishes to pray for vocations. Both the chalice and the resource folder are still available for parishes to use.
In 2017 and in conjunction with our Primary Schools we worked together to produce a prayer booklet focussing on the ‘Mysteries of Light’. In the summer of 2024, we hoping to produce a second booklet concentrating on the ‘Joyful Mysteries’.
The group helps to organise the annual deanery Mass for vocations, supported in turn by the five secondary schools in the deanery.
The North Staffordshire Vocations Promotion Group is still meeting over 35 years on, usually 6 times a year.
If you would like to join the group, become a contact for your Parish or would like further information, please contact:
John Macdonald, Secretary: nstaffs.vocations@rcaob.org.uk