Vocations
When we hear the word vocations, we automatically think of the Priesthood, but vocations are much more than just that. Vocations are typically looked at either as your job or how you live your life, either married or single. Either way, you look at it, God has a vocation for each of us and it takes time in prayer to fully trust God for your vocation and taking the time to pursue it.
God knew us before He created us, He knew what our life would look like before we were even born. While this may seem overwhelming, it is actually quite nice to sit back and lean into God and His call for each of us. This is a time to reflect on what makes you happy. What drives you? What makes you passionate about life? I always joke that God called me to this life, I never saw this career for me. I have been working in Churches for over 15 years now, and while I took a 3-year hiatus, I craved this vocation more than ever. When God (ahem, Fr. Chuck) called, offering me the Director of Faith Formation position, my spiritual director, and I could find no fault in going back to work. While God had called me to the vocations of being a wife and a mother, I struggled before my hiatus to actually accept that vocation. I had to learn how to make them first, over all the other families I served. In marriage prep, they tell you if God always comes first, everything else will fall into place. So while we take this journey, really look inward and listen to where God is calling you, especially you college students!
The call to Holy Orders...Men who are feeling called to a vocation in the Church can either become a deacon or a priest. The Church has certain processes to help guide you to decide whether either of these is a path for you to go on. If you are interested in the priesthood, here is more information from the Paulist Fathers to help you discern. Fr. Rich Andre is part of the vocations' panel for the Paulist Fathers and along with Fr. Chuck, Fr. Paolo, or Fr. Bruce can help you discern what would be the right path. If you are interested in the diaconate program, the Diocese of Austin has guidance for you as well. We will be hearing from Fr. Paolo and other Religious life orders this weekend, and you can ask them more questions about both programs.
The call to Religious Life encompasses the Brother and Sisterhood. Men and women who are called to the Religious Life, still live in communities and take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They take either a prayerful or action missionary. Through prayer, or contemplative, they work and pray throughout the day. There are many different types of Religious Life communities and I highly suggest that you take some time to either get to know Sister Hannah here at St. Austin’s or check out more information about consecrated life here.
The Call to Marriage is a vocation most people might be called to. Whether they find their partner early on, or later in life, most people have the vocation of marriage in their path. This is just as serious a vocation as the Priesthood or Religious Life. As a married person, you are dependent and responsible for others, and you have to rely on God to guide you and your family on the right path. You are still taking a vow, in front of God, to be there for your spouse and for your family and for God. As mentioned earlier, when you go through marriage prep, one of the first things they hit on is keeping God before everyone else. If you keep God first, then all will fall in place for you, your spouse, and your family.
Another vocation is the Call to being single. This vocation might come about when you do not become a Priest, or go into the Religious Life, or have found the right partner, but are called by God to do good in the world with where you are at in life. You do not take any vows like in marriage or becoming a Priest or Religious Life, but you do make a vow with God that while you are single, for whatever reason, that the lives you touch will be because of God, that God is using you as an instrument in this world to bring peace and joy to those around you.
No matter what vocation you decide, take some time to prayerfully consider where God wants you to go. Ask Him to guide you and take you on this roller coaster ride and show you where you need to go. We will be praying for each of you during this discernment process!