Pilgrimage for spiritual vocation on the Holy Mountain - Saturday 9 May

You are cordially invited to come to Holy Mountain on May 9, 2026 for the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage for Spiritual Vocations.
Throughout the day, the faithful from throughout the Archdiocese will gather together to pray for new vocations to the priesthood, religious and consecrated life and to support those who are still seeking their path.

The 11.00 a.m. Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl of Prague.

Additional information:

PILGRIMAGE FOR NEW VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

The traditional Pilgrimage for Spiritual Vocations will take place at Svatá Hora near Příbram on Saturday, 9 May - a day of prayer, encounter and hope for the whole Church. At a time when the shortage of priests and religious is becoming more and more urgent, this pilgrimage takes on a special significance. It is not just a one-off event, but a concrete response by the faithful to the call of Christ: 'Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.'

The situation in the Czech Republic has long been serious in this respect. The number of active priests is gradually decreasing and their average age is increasing. In the Archdiocese of Prague, only a few new priests are ordained each year, while the needs of parishes are considerably higher. Similarly, religious communities are facing a decline in new members. Yet, we cannot speak only of a crisis - rather a call for more intense prayer, witness and courage of young people to listen to the voice of God.

It is in this spirit that this year's pilgrimage has been prepared. Already on Friday evening, young pilgrims will arrive at the Holy Mountain together with seminarians who will participate in a joint programme in the Basilica. The following Saturday, the day will culminate in a solemn Mass at the Coronation Altar at 11 a.m., accompanied by a rich liturgical and prayer program. The main guest of the pilgrimage and celebrant of the Mass will be the new Archbishop of Prague and former parish priest of St. Stanislav Pribyl.

An important element of the pilgrimage is also the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and personal prayer. After the Mass, the veneration of the statue of the Virgin Mary, which is inseparably linked to this place, will continue. The afternoon program will then offer the Litany of Loreto and a special prayer for those who have left their priestly or religious vocation - concluding with a procession to Calvary and a final blessing. This part of the program will be led by the parish priest of Svatohora, Miloš Szabo, who is ending his mission here on May 15, 2026, and taking over an important task in the large Prague parish of Barrandov and Hlubočepy.

The pilgrimage for spiritual vocations thus combines several levels: prayer for new vocations, support for those who are already serving, and sensitive remembrance of those whose path was different. It is a day when the Church is once again aware that a vocation is not just a personal decision, but a gift to be prayed for together.

This year, Holy Mountain will also be a place where the prayer of the whole Church is heard - silent but urgent: that God may continue to call new priests, religious men and women who are willing to dedicate their lives to the service of God and people.

The pilgrimage is open to people who are not baptized or are not active Christians, but who sincerely perceive the need for priests in today's troubled times and divided society.

Miloš Szabo