Rationale

Priests and those in the consecrated life, like any person, share interests — interests such as running or playing sports. Training is a time to reflect and to pray. It’s important that we include prayer into our undertakings. Runners/walkers know that in the course of their respective races they'll experience great challenges. But the sense of accomplishment and mission to overcome these challenges makes it worthwhile to them. Each runner/walker will say "I do not run aimlessly" (1 Corinthians 9:26).


Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu has supported these initiatives in line with the Catholic Church celebration of the Jubilee Year of St. Paul. This will be a positive statement of the Diocesan Vocations Office to bring awareness to people that we as a Catholic community are determined to make a difference, and we as a Church are expressing a need for vocations.


Whether one chooses to run the entire marathon course of 26.2 miles, to run a shorter course, or to walk, discipline is required to prepare and complete the course. The discipline of proper training and finishing each marathon (according to the means and distance for which you have registered), will teach Catholic Youth and other participants that they can have endurance throughout their lives and they can accomplish great things. At each marathon, they offer their sacrifice to run/walk “extra miles” for vocations. The mission is always to finish the race for which one has registered. As St. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."

Descriptions

1. Runners/walkers collect “prayer for vocations” pledges, instead of donations, from the friends for Vocations, parents, parishioners, students and youth ministry members.

2. Runners / walkers circulate a sign-up sheet for people willing to pray for vocations for each mile they complete.

3. Each runner/walker carries a prayer card of vocation candidates to pray for during the race.

4. Runners will be identified through their vocation shirts with the motto, "I do not run aimlessly" (1 Corinthians 9:26) or "I have finished the race; I have kept the faith" from 2 Timothy 4:7.

5. A day before the race, all participants are encouraged to attend Mass (venue varied) with Rev. Peter Dumag or the Bishop presiding. Anyone can sponsor a Carbo-snack.

By

5 comments:

  1. Mardie TorresJanuary 14, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    2009 will be a GREAT year to join this team and gather prayers pledged for vocations to the priesthood, the consecrated life, and the diaconate!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Library GalJanuary 28, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    I love this initiative for 3 reasons:

    1. It reinforces that the body IS the temple of the Holy Spirit and must be cared for.

    2. It's a fresh way to connect with the people, the Church body. Anything that makes the Church hierarchy go grassroots is wonderful. This has the potential to snowball (or whatever equivalent term is applicable to tropical Hawaii) and rejuvenate both laity and clergy.

    3. This blog. I applaud the use of technology to popularize your cause.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Easter AlmuenaFebruary 8, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    Dear Fr. Dumag,

    I have always loved the Catholic Church. I cannot tell you how proud I am right now of being a part of this awesome Church that promotes vocation, especially at a time when we need more priests, women in the religious life, and deacons that will not only assist our priests, but also foster traditional family values.

    Esther Gefroh and I of the Spiritual Mothers Apostolate will contact the Spiritual Mothers of our priests and seminarians, so we can be united with you in prayers for your causes.

    Much aloha and mahalo,
    Easter Almuena

    ReplyDelete
  4. EC GefrohFebruary 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    Father Peter, I posted about this run on my blog:
    http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com/2009/01/would-you-pledge-some-prayers-for.html
    You can count on my daily prayers for vocations.
    God bless,

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mardie TorresFebruary 16, 2009 at 7:12 PM

    The first AKUA for vocations marathon was a success! Our dear Bishop Larry Silva led the team with Rev. Peter J. Dumag and 6 other priests, religious brothers and sisters, and volunteers. Thank you for supporting us for the 2009 Great Aloha Run. See you at the next marathon.

    ReplyDelete

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