Lahore Archbishop Opens Vocation Camp, Urges Youth to Build a Missionary Church

On Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26, 2026, Archbishop Khalid Rehmat, OFM Cap, of Lahore inaugurated a Vocation Day Camp at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Aadha, Sialkot, in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Organized under the leadership of parish priest Fr. Clarence Hayat, OFM Cap, the event aimed to guide young people in discerning religious life. Dozens of priests and women religious from various congregations attended, representing their respective missions.

The archbishop was welcomed with drumbeats and rose petals. He formally opened the camp by cutting a ribbon and later visited exhibition stalls where religious congregations showcased their work in education, health care, and social services.

In his homily, Archbishop Rehmat reflected on the region’s missionary history and the need to foster vocations.

“Sialkot is the land where the first missionaries planted the seeds of the Gospel,” he said. “We thank those missionaries; now it is our responsibility to be a missionary Church. Vocation strengthens the Church and deepens the faith of the community. I urge young people to ask God, ‘What do You want from me?’ Do not be afraid to answer His call. The Lord seeks courageous hearts to serve His people. Your ‘yes’ to God is a ‘yes’ to the future of our community. My dream is a Church that is strong in faith, self-reliant, and missionary.”

Fr. Naqash Azam, rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Lahore, described the event as the fruit of the Church’s collective prayers. “Our mission as formators is to help young people hear God’s voice amid the distractions of the world, so they can become shepherds who reflect the Heart of Christ,” he said.

Sr. Genevieve Ramlal of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary emphasized the role of families in nurturing vocations. “The quality of vocations depends on the formation received within the family. With parental guidance and a strong bond with the parish, the seeds of religious life are sown in hearts rooted in prayer,” she said.

Samuel Masih, a student, said the event inspired him to consider the priesthood. “Hearing the archbishop has given me the courage to listen to God’s call. I want to serve my people as the first missionaries served this land,” he said.

Fr. Clarence Hayat concluded the program by thanking the archbishop and the participating religious congregations. The event ended with a renewed focus on preparing the next generation for religious life and strengthening the Church’s future.