Society of Divine Vocations The Vocationists Blessed Fr

Society of Divine Vocations (The Vocationists) Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo

§ He was born on 18 January 1891 in Pianura, Italy § Due to his family’s poverty, young Justin almost did not get to go to the seminary. § After many struggles, he entered the seminary where he was known for his intelligence, humility and piety.

§ On his ordination, while prostrating before the Bishop, he made a private vow to the Lord to found a religious Congregation to cultivate vocations to the priesthood for the Whole Church, especially among the poor. § He died on 2 August 1955 § Beatified on 7 May 2011

Blessed Fr. Justin passed on to his sons and daughters his love and concern for vocations in general and for vocations of the poor in particular.

Who are we? Ø The Vocationist Order is a religious community of Priests and Brothers who strive to foster, search, encourage, and guide vocations to religious life and the priesthood.

ØOur main ministry is to identify and guide and help discern those who believe they are called to serve God as Priest and Brothers. Ø We pursue this goal through our work in parishes, missions and special vocation houses called VOCATIONARIES.

Ø In our Vocationaries, all those who showed signs of a vocation and have not yet decided whether to enter the seminary or join a specific Religious Community, are welcomed and formed both spiritually and academically free of charge. Poverty must not stop them from realising their vocations.

Ø We exist in the Church to help anyone discerning a call to priesthood or to religious life. This is our particular mission and calling in the Church.

Fields of Formation Human Formation Spiritual Formation Intellectual Formation Pastoral Formation

We are currently working in 18 countries: ØItaly ØBrazil ØColombia ØEquador ØChile ØArgentina ØUnited States ØCanada ØEngland ØWales ØFrance ØNigeria ØSouth Africa ØMadagascar ØIndia ØPhilippines ØIndonesia ØVietnam

§ Currently, we have more than 200 candidates who are discerning their call and those who are already in formation to religious life and to priesthood. § Our collection for today is intended to support the formation of these candidates to help them realize their particular vocation to religious life and to priesthood.