Archdiocese of Davao Launches Vocation Month 2026, Calls Faithful to Prayer and Holiness

The Archdiocese of Davao formally opened Vocation Month 2026 on November 1, coinciding with the Solemnity of All Saints, through a Eucharistic Celebration at Davao Memorial Park along General Douglas MacArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City, gathering priests, religious men and women, vocation promoters, and the faithful in a shared call to pray for and promote vocations in the Church.

The Holy Mass, held at 5:00 p.m., was presided over by Rev. Fr. Ronald Arcillas, Director of the Commission on Vocation of the Archdiocese of Davao, together with concelebrating priests. The celebration brought together religious men and women from 34 congregations, with approximately 240 participants, alongside members of the Davao Vocation Promoters (DVP-Davao) and other collaborators.

In his homily, Fr. Arcillas reflected on the significance of All Saints’ Day, reminding the faithful to remember their departed loved ones through prayer. He emphasized that the greatest offering they can give to those who have passed away is not material offerings but prayers, saying, “The best we can offer for our brothers and sisters nga gilubong diri sa sementeryo is not food and flowers but our prayers.”

Fr. Ronald Arcillas together with the PM Sisters

Connecting the solemnity with the beginning of Vocation Month, he also underscored the importance of prayer in recognizing and responding to God’s call. “The best way of discovering the gifts within is through prayer. We can only truly listen if we pray. We can only discern if we pray. And finally, we can only respond if we pray,” he said.

Carrying the theme, “Vocation: Called to Pray, Called to Be Holy,” this year’s celebration invites the faithful to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, pursue holiness in their daily lives, and become active participants in encouraging and nurturing vocations.

Throughout November, the Commission on Vocation, together with DVP-Davao and its partners, has prepared various activities to engage communities, schools, and parishes in the promotion of vocations. Among these is Vocation Story in 60 Seconds, which provides an opportunity to share personal vocation journeys and inspire others through brief testimonies.

Vocation Director with Davao Seminarians

From November 1 to 30, the faithful are also encouraged to participate in daily spiritual activities, including Holy Hours, the praying of the Holy Rosary, and prayers for vocations. Meanwhile, the weekly radio program Bokasyon Bililhong Gasa airs every Monday, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., on DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM Davao, offering listeners opportunities to learn more about vocation and the different ways of answering God’s call.

Vocation symposiums will likewise be conducted in schools and parishes from November 2 to 27, providing spaces for young people and other members of the faithful to learn about the various forms of vocation and reflect on their personal calling. The month-long celebration will culminate in the Vocation Jamboree on November 28–29 at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (REMASE), bringing together participants for fellowship, prayer, and deeper discernment.

The DVP-Davao family, the religious men and women representing 34 congregations, and many individuals who shared their time, talents, and efforts made the successful launch possible.

As the Archdiocese continues its observance of Vocation Month, the faithful are encouraged to journey together in prayer, promoting and nurturing vocations, recognizing that responding to God’s call begins with a heart willing to listen.

Through prayer and a continuing pursuit of holiness, the Church hopes to inspire more hearts to discover their gifts, discern their purpose, and courageously answer God’s invitation to serve.