Ethnic communities to host vocation novena

BRIGHTON--Nine ethnic communities of the Archdiocese of Boston will host eucharistic holy hours and novena prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, from Dec. 3-11, ending on the vigil of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Sponsored by the Office of Vocations, the novena is a way for different ethnic communities to “pray to Our Lady” for vocations, said Father Michael Harrington, the office’s associate director.

Archdiocesan ethnic communities are really taking Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley’s pastoral message, “Vocations are everybody’s business” to heart, he said.

“The ethnic communities have been a great catalyst to vocations in our archdiocese,” said Father Harrington, adding that at least 16 current seminarians in the archdiocese are ethnically born. In his experience, he said, Boston’s ethnic communities are “vibrant and strong and want to be a significant part in promotion of vocation life of the archdiocese.”

Each evening of the novena will consist of prayers in English and in the native language of the host community and will be led by Father Daniel F. Hennessey, director of the Office of Vocations, Father Harrington, and various priests and directors of the ethnic communities.

The Congolese Community will begin the holy hour and novena prayers Dec. 3 at St. Mary Parish, Lynn from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Korean Community will host at St. Philip Neri Parish, Newton on Dec. 4 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. On Dec. 5, the Vietnamese Community will host at St. Ambrose Parish, Dorchester from 8-9 p.m. and the Deaf Community will host Dec. 6 at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Filipino Community will host at Holy Name Parish, W. Roxbury from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 and the Chinese Community will host Dec. 8 at St. James Parish, Boston from 10-11 a.m. On Dec. 9 the novena will be hosted at Immaculate Conception Parish, Marlboro by the Brazilian Community from 7-9 p.m. and on Dec. 10 at St. Angela Parish, Mattapan by the Haitian Community from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The final evening of prayer will be hosted by the Hispanic Community from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Mary Parish, Waltham.

“Our efforts and work with ethnic communities will continue,” said Father Harrington, but as to what that entails is still developing, he added.