FOR PARISHES

PRAYER

  • Holy Hours for Vocations. Have a special Holy Hour to pray for priestly and religious vocations.  Both Serra Clubs in Omaha offer these on a monthly basis.  Invite one of the Serra Clubs to host a holy hour at your parish!

  • Rosary for Vocations. During the rosary mention candidates by name.

  • Vocation Prayer distribution. Vocation prayer card given to parishioners on World Day of Prayer for Vocations or during National Vocation Awareness Week.

HOW TO HOLD A HOLY HOUR
SERRA CLUB OF OMAHA
SERRA CLUB OF WEST OMAHA

ACTIVITIES

  • Workshops for Altar Servers. Teach altar servers about vocational discernment.

  • Parish Discernment Groups. Small groups of boys or girls led by parish priest or sister, with help from parents, to help them understand vocations. Consider the Melchizedek Project, which provides free resources for discernment groups.

  • Attend ordinations. Coordinate for confirmation students or youth groups to attend an ordination

  • Traveling Crucifix or Chalice. In this popular program, a crucifix or chalice is brought home by a different family each week. It is kept in a special place by the family, who prays each day for more vocations. 

MELCHIZEDEK PROJECT

OTHER IDEAS

  • Vocations library:  Keep a special corner of the vestibule stocked with vocation-related materials.

  • Poster/coloring/essay/video contests:  Organize a contest with a vocations theme for students.

  • Vocation stories:  Invite priests to tell their vocation stories at parish events.

  • Web page:  Create a page on your parish website with vocation information.

  • Director of Vocations:  Invite the Director of Vocations to the parish for a weekend, for Mass and a meal with parish families.

  • Support our seminarians:  Send greeting cards to each seminarian at the beginning of a new semester, holidays, exam times, birthdays, ordinations, etc.

  • Celebrate ordination anniversaries:  Honor parish priests and celebrate within the parish and school.

CURRENT SEMINARIANS
CONTACT FATHER SCOTT

Hey! I’m Zach Eischeid. I grew up in Elgin, Nebraska and belong to the Saint Boniface Parish. I attended Saint Boniface Elementary and graduated from Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School. Saint Boniface Parish is a great place to learn about the Faith with our schools and to see so many parishioners helping each other and our parish in a myriad of ways.

My discernment has been around for as long as I can remember. Since I was a toddler, the priesthood always amazed me. However, around junior high, I kept pushing it to the back of my mind because I didn’t want to be labeled as that “extra-religious guy.” After graduating, I decided to attend Benedictine College to major in Theology. Towards the end of my first year at Benedictine, while at my sister’s wedding dance, I oddly had a strong feeling about seminary. A month later, I attended the priest ordination while teaching Totus Tuus, and started weeping during the procession in the cathedral. This sign was big encouragement in finally giving my future in God’s hands. I am currently at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and have made many fraternal friendships, as we are all on the same journey of striving to be what God wants us to be.

For all those with even an inkling about entering seminary, I encourage you to be open to it. Pray about it, frequent the sacraments, and remember: “You were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” And remember, every priest and seminarian has gone through what you are going through.

In my down time, I like playing any sport, especially basketball and baseball, jamming on the ukulele, listening to Christian rap, watching Nebraska football, and combating heresy.