Prayers for Vocations

Our Bishop's pastoral letter for today, Good Shepherd Sunday (which may be read in full from a link here) included an announcement of a novena for Vocations:

Here in our Diocese of Lancaster there will be a nine week novena of prayer for vocations beginning on Pentecost Sunday, and I ask you, your parish and your local Catholic school and college to be part of that ‘wave of prayer’ ascending to Almighty God. Christ the Good Shepherd has given His life for His flock and so will never leave His Church bereft of priests, but our own individual efforts of encouragement, sacrifices and prayers do matter too. May all of us remain faithful in prayer to the Lord of the harvest that He may never fail to send priestly workers into the vineyard of the Diocese of Lancaster. 

 I don't know if other bishops are asking the same thing; but clearly prayers for vocations are very important; and a nine week novena is an excellent idea.

Pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, priests, religious and deacons; and pray for vocations.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium: et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. 

V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur. 
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae. 

Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. 

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. 
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 

Let us pray. O God, Who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant by the same Spirit that we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.