Good Shepherd Novena – 9 Days of Prayer

A nine-day novena for priestly and religious vocations, prayed especially during Good Shepherd Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Easter) — asking Christ the Good Shepherd to call workers to His harvest and to shepherd His flock.

The Good Shepherd Novena is a prayer for priestly and religious vocations. It is prayed especially around Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, which is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It asks that many hear Christ's voice and follow him. Parishes, families and young people can pray it together. The Gospel for the day recalls Christ the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep by name. Pray the novena for your parish priest, for seminarians, and for young people who may be hearing a call they do not yet understand.

The Good Shepherd9 daysintention

A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. You can begin this novena on any day.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play

Good Shepherd Novena – prayer for all nine days

Intention: For Priestly and Religious Vocations, for Priests and Consecrated Persons, and for Those Discerning a Call

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, You said the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. You asked us to pray to the Lord of the harvest — and You are that Lord. So we come to You with this prayer that You Yourself invited. Send workers. Call them by name. And give those who are called the courage to say yes. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd,
You know Your sheep by name.
You laid down Your life for them.
You go after the one that is lost
and do not rest until it is found.

We need shepherds like You.
The harvest is plentiful — You said so Yourself.
And the workers are few.

We ask You, Lord of the harvest:
send workers into Your harvest field.
Call young men to the priesthood
who will love Your people as You love them —
who will lay down their lives in small ways daily,
who will speak Your truth with both clarity and mercy.

Call women and men to the consecrated life —
to monasteries and missions,
to the teaching orders and the healing orders,
to the hidden life of prayer that holds the world up.

And to those who are discerning:
give them ears to hear Your voice
among all the other voices.
Give them the courage to say yes
before they can see clearly where the yes will lead.
Give them communities that will form them
and friends who will walk with them.

Lord, do not let the Church run short of shepherds.
Do not let generations go without priests who love them.
Do not let the harvest rot in the field
for lack of workers.

We ask this through the intercession
of Mary, Mother of priests,
and all the holy shepherds who have gone before.

Amen.
Hail Mary... Our Father... Glory Be...

Good Shepherd, call Your workers.

Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.

Traditional Catholic Devotional Prayer · Good Shepherd Sunday: The Fourth Sunday of Easter. John 10:11 — 'I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.' The Church designates this Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Jesus also says: 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' (Matthew 9:37-38)

More novenas

Frequently asked questions

When should I start the Good Shepherd Novena?

Begin nine days before Good Shepherd Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday of Easter.

How do I pray the Good Shepherd Novena?

Pray the daily prayer once a day, and name a priest or a young person you want to pray for.

Who is the Good Shepherd Novena for?

It is for parishes, vocation groups and anyone discerning a call.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play