Vocation Awareness Morning

Our community at Bundoora joined the Vocation Awareness, which is usually celebrated annually in Australia during the feast of Mary MacKillop. The event was dedicated to promoting vocations to religious life and the priesthood through prayer. Young people from different youth organisations in St Francis of Assisi Parish were invited, and 10 young men and women from Assisi Young Adult, Life Teen, and Jesus Youth accepted the invitation.

The half-day gathering began with a “cuppa” and a short sharing of personal stories by Sr Mary and Sr Candida. The spontaneous response and participation of the youth quickly created a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and a sense of friendship.

The main reflection was led by Sr Delia, who spoke about vocations in general, single blessedness, married life, the priesthood, and the consecrated life and how these states of life are of equal importance and different ways of going in the same direction; they point to the one calling, that of HOLINESS.

After the talk, participants were invited to ask questions about what they heard. Some questions were, how does the person know that she/he has a vocation? What is the process of joining a religious community?  The sharing focused on the awareness that the vocation is a call from God and a person's response.  After the sharing, time was spent in personal prayer and adoration.

Pope Leo XIV recently called upon the Church to “welcome and accompany young people” in their discernment, while encouraging them to “accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”

It is our hope that the experience of the ten young adults who attended the Vocation Awareness morning will challenge them to reflect further on how —and where — God is calling them to live their vocations, and how we, ourselves, may continue to foster vocations in our communities.

May the Good Shepherd continue to send labourers into his harvest and bless His Church with good vocations.

Sr Rodelia Bordan, sjbp