September, 2006
The following article appeared originally in an Australian publication called Parish Vocations Awareness Committtee Guidelines: Fostering a 'Voactions Culture'. It has been amended, with permission of the publishers, by Brorher Kevin Laws of St Patrick's Province Victoria. For which many thanks. I recommend it highly to all vocation personnel.
Inviting Individuals to Consider a Vocation to the Religious Life
People Need An Invitation
A major task of the Vocation Team is to identify individuals in the Community/school/ network who might make good religious, and personally invite them to consider this special call. This is a crucial part of vocations ministry. Recent anecdotal evidence (shared by Australian vocations ministers) indicates that most people in houses of religious formation are there because, somewhere in their journey of discernment, they were personally encouraged or invited to consider a religious vocation. This pattern is not new! It reflects the stories of so many religious!
Whom should we invite?
Following are five easy steps on how to identify potential candidates for personal invitation.
1. Pray about it
Prayer must always be primary. Before meeting to identify those people whom they believe would make a good religious, spend some time in prayer as a group, asking for God’s help and guidance in the important mission you are about to take on.
2. Consult
Meet with the youth ministry team and school staff, and ask them to identify those people they believe would make good religious. You can enlist the help of the parish in searching out candidates. You may promote the idea in congregation publications and school magazines and newsletters (see sample below) asking people to identify those they consider would be suitable candidates, and why. Ask the brothers and Edmund Rice network to pray for your committee in this important search. Work in conjunction with the Parish priest and any work the Parish is doing in this area.
3. Search
In addition to the names already gathered, take a close look at the people involved in the
specific groups, making sure to include all ethnic communities in your area, e.g.
• Those actively involved in church…
• Youth involved in assisting the marginalised
• Youth leaders
• People involved with prayer groups
There are many young, single Catholics around who are prayerful, generous and involved in the parish and wider community. These are the kind of people who would make good
religious.
Sample bulletin insert:
Search for Candidates
Research has shown that most people who decide to choose a vocation to the religious life
do so because somebody along the way said to them: “You would make a good brother.”
This month the Vocation Team is conducting a search for potential candidates for the religious life. The people identified will be contacted and personally invited to consider a religious vocation. During this search process the committee members will consult with organisations connected with the congregation asking for suggestions. If you know of single person whom you think would make good a brother, please contact the committee* with their name and phone number. And please help by including them in your prayers. (*Add contact details)
The following list of qualities is offered to help you identity potential candidates to the religious life:
• SERVICE – Does the young person show signs of altruism?
• COMPASSION – Does the person feel empathy for the suffering of others?
• COMMITMENT – Is this a person who follows through on commitments?
• SOCIABILITY – Do these young people interact well with peers? Do others enjoy
being around them?
• LEADERSHIP – Can they lead by persuasion and example rather than position?
• INQUIETUDE – Is this an inquisitive person, someone who consistently asks the larger
questions?
• TRUST – Do others consider this to be an honest person, someone worthy of
trust?
• ATTRACTION – Does this person seem to be attracted to positive ministerial role
models? …. Would he or she be an attractive model for others?
• GOALS – Is this a young person who has his or her own goals? One who meets
these goals?
• LEARNING – Does this person have the ability to learn, academically and
personally?
• MEANING – Does this young person act out of a value system and believe life is
purposeful?
These are the people in whom the Spirit is active, and vocation discernment should be seen as a
process in which others assist them to complete the good work that God has already begun.
(Terrance W. Klein: “Discerning Vocations to Ordained Ministry and Religious Life” – America Journal)
4. Discern
• Meet as a committee to consider the names that have been submitted.
• Spend some time in prayer
• In an atmosphere of strict confidentiality invite comments about each suggested
candidate.
• It may be helpful to have a facilitator or member of the Leadership Team attend this
meeting.
5. Personally invite
It is now time to personally invite candidates whose names you have identified. Nominate
which team member will approach which candidate. Say something like this:
“I am contacting you on behalf of our Vocations Team. Our team feels you have the qualities needed to be a brother. We would like you to prayerfully consider this matter. If you wish, we could help you to explore the possibility that God is calling you in this way. Please take time to seriously consider this invitation, and, if you would like to follow this up, here are my contact details.”
(A suggestion: you might also offer the invitation in writing)
If you feel self-conscious about doing this, remember that you are really complimenting the
person. Even if the person is not interested in a religious vocation, he will feel affirmed by your conversation.
If people respond positively to this invitation, they may wish to speak with your Vocation Director or they may prefer someone on the team. All dioceses, and most religious congregations have designated vocations ministers whose contact details are listed on the CVMA website: www.catholicozvocations.org.au. You can add any appropriate website for your area.
Information
about the Vocation Conference to be held in Auckland is to
be found on the Edmund Rice Network New Zealand
website. The link is
www.edmundrice.org.nz
and on the Home page is the link Vocation Conference
2007.
Email
dominicsassi@aol.com