Once again this weekend on Vocations Sunday we are asked to urge our people to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. I certainly will do that but combine it with an appeal to pray that the church authorities have a real look at the question of why there is a lack and whether it is because we are looking in the wrong way for vocations.A missionary priest talking to a group of parishioners some 30 years ago changed my ideas. He said he had something like 30,000 people in his mission in 12 mission stations.?He said it was impossible for him to have any real pastoral care for such a number.Someone asked why he did not have the catechists ordained deacon. His response was: “No, the catechists have the pastoral care of the people, they should be given the sac