The Office for Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Most Reverend Daniel Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will host hundreds of young adults (ages 18-39) for Vocations Night at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul to launch Vocations Awareness Week.

The two-part "Catholic Underground" evening will include a candlelight Eucharistic Adoration service, song and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Vocations Night will conclude with a Coffee House format of refreshments, discussion and concert by Jesuit Seminarian Michael Magree, S.J.

7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul
18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Catholic Underground is a cultural apostolate of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. It is a direct response to a call that began with Pope John Paul II and has been continued by Pope Benediict XVI. For more information about the Office for Youth and Young Adults, please visit www.oyya.org.
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Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will begin Vocations Awareness Week on Monday, January 12, 2009 by presiding at a Holy Hour for Vocations from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Saint Pius X parish in Broomall, Pa. Cardinal Rigali has asked for the faithful of the Archdiocese to unite in prayer for an increase in priestly vocations. Each parish throughout the Archdiocese will hold daylong Eucharistic Adoration in the church or chapel, concluding with Holy Hour from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Friday, January 16, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Most Reverend Daniel Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will lead an evening of prayer for vocations at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The evening will begin with a Eucharistic Procession and include talks and films about priestly vocations. All young men of the Archdiocese are invited to attend. For more information about Vocations, please visit www.heedthecall.org.

Note: Media interested in covering Vocations Night/Catholic Underground on Saturday, January 10, 2009 please contact Abbie Langsdorf, from the Office for Youth and Young Adults at (cell) 215-815-9619.

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Contact
Kevin Mulligan
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747