Advertising for Vocations

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Augustine

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We are discerning if our secular community should embrace an apostolate to foment male vocations as friars of our order. So we’ve been considering about the effectiveness of advertisements, be them on Catholic radio, diocesan papers, Catholic papers, etc.

Can anybody share experiences about the results of advertising for vocations?

:blessyou:
 
The question mentioned in that report was, “Did any of these influence your discernment?”
I would agree that advertising would not be a big influence on discernment, however I don’t think you can get away with not doing any. People have to know your there.
Young people really don’t read newspapers and whatnot much. But you need to have a presence on the web with links from appropriate vocation sites etc. That is where young people look for information. If your not there, they probably won’t find out about you.
 
I’m starting to think that spreading the word about our order, its charisms and its way of life, is perhaps what needs to be known by those discerning a vocation.

Seeking an order or an institute is what women must do, but it seems to me that men in discernment approach only the diocesan priesthood, ignoring religious life as a brother or as a priest.

What can the religious say about this anecdotal assessment?

:blessyou:
 
I actually think there are quite a few more religious priests then diocesan and that the priest shortage is especially effecting the diocesan priesthood rather than the religious communities. Don’t worry there are some good men considering religious societies 😃 I’m one of them
 
I would be inclined to say that a decent website with pictures of young vocations will probably do more than paid advertising will ever be able to do. If your community has young friars, that is the best advertising you will ever need.

Young men and women are not drawn to advertisements, so much as they are drawn to authentic religious spirituality that has not been watered down by secular values. Youth are drawn to orthodox orders like magnets.

-Davide
 
I dont think advirtesments ever helped to determine my calling, but I do think that advertisments, especially for Religious Communities, helped my research many more communities than i would have without them. In other words, they wont make a decision, but they will help make a more informed decision
 
It may seem strange to advertise for vocations, but, just like many a vocation was planted by old ladies telling a young man that he’d make a good priest, I think that we need to be nudging those who God calls to serve the Church in His vineyard. Of course, if someone decides to look further into our order just to find out that that’s where God is calling him or her, the better.

Indeed, a flourishing community with young blood is always attractive. But I’m afraid that that’s exactly the problem with our province, or rather the solution we’re seeking. I wonder if so many decades of emphasis in social work has put off the young to a more contemplative life of service.

I really appreciate all your replies, please, keep’em coming. They’ve been quite helpful reflecting on this apostolate.

:blessyou:
 
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