Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place on Sept. 16, 2025, during the kickoff for the weekly Vocation Tuesday initiative at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Vocation Tuesday kickoff asks the Holy Spirit to help vocations flourish
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Members of the faithful gathered to pray for a culture of vocations in the Diocese of Owensboro in the evening of Sept. 16, as the first weekly Vocation Tuesday event was kicked off at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish.
Vocations director Fr. Corey D. Bruns presided at the bilingual 6:30 p.m. holy hour and the 7:30 p.m. Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. Dcn. Mike Marsili, assistant director of vocations, and Dcn. Ken Bennett, co-coordinator of the Office of Worship, assisted at the holy hour and Mass.
Seminarian Juan Carlos Lazo Soriano proclaims the first reading during the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 16 during the kickoff of the Office of Vocations’ weekly Vocation Tuesday initiative at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Several priests were available to hear confessions during the holy hour, which featured both sacred music and silence to assist the prayer experience of Adoration.
In his homily at Mass, Fr. Bruns said that the purpose of gathering that evening was to “pray that the Holy Spirit will sing over the Diocese of Owensboro” and help more young men and women be open to discerning the priesthood, religious life, and holy marriages.
All are invited to join the Office of Vocations every week for Vocation Tuesday with 6:30 p.m. holy hour and confessions and 7:30 p.m. Mass.
St. Thérèse Vocation Society
This society is an intentional prayer society beginning in our diocese on her feast day, Oct. 1. As a cloistered nun in a Carmelite monastery, St. Thérèse of Lisieux was known especially for her prayers for priests and her desire to be “an apostle to apostles.” This is a fantastic opportunity for those who are homebound, suffering from illness, or anyone who wishes to join intentional prayer and sacrifice for vocations for our diocese at home. Contact Fr. Corey D. Bruns at [email protected] or (270) 421-7868.
Conception College Seminary Come & See
The Office of Vocations is sponsoring an “Encounter with God’s Call” seminary discernment Come & See Weekend from Nov. 14-16 for high school juniors through recent college graduates (ages 16-25). There is no cost to attend. Contact Fr. Corey D. Bruns at [email protected] or (270) 421-7868.
Vocations director Fr. Corey D. Bruns lifts the monstrance during Benediction at the Sept. 16 Vocation Tuesday kickoff at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Originally printed in the October 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
