MARIETTA--A parish vocation committee at Holy Family Church has established a parish program to affirm those already serving the Church and to encourage new religious vocations through prayer and education.

The five-point program includes daily prayer for vocations; an "adopt a seminarian" plan; personal affirmation of priests currently serving the archdiocese; prayers for vocations during the prayers of the faithful; and the "31 Club" program where individuals attend Mass on the same date each month for vocations.

The program was suggested by Serrans Jim Conway and Harry Sholota and initiated by Father Ed Thein, pastor of Holy Family Church.

Members of the parish were introduced to the archdiocesan vocations program over the four Sundays of October.

The committee introduced "Support Our Religious" with a large poster of a seminarian being held up by those in the photograph, the work of Paul Palladino. The poster was displayed in the vestibule behind a table containing vocation literature. The five-point program was printed in English and Spanish and inserted in the parish bulletin.

Holy Family is also promoting the Serrans' "Called By Name" program. Participants are invited to prayerfully submit the name of an individual who they believe has the qualities necessary for a religious vocation.

Additional volunteers are needed for the "31 Club" and to remember Religious and priests on birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. For further information contact Harry Sholota at (770) 953-3746.