The Pope has appealed to young people to follow "the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment" involved in the religious life. In an address for World Day of Prayer for Vocations yesterday, he said in a world marked by great contradictions "and the temptation to relegate God to the margins in the fundamental choices of life", vocations were evermore necessary.
To mark the day, Response, the vocations association, organised a 15-mile walk in the Boyne Valley yesterday.
The "faith event", which involved priests and religious from all over Ireland as well as lay people, was planned to enable men and women "who have responded to the call of God" to celebrate and give thanks for their lives of commitment and service to the Church.