Encouraging Vocations

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MissMichal

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General queston: How can parents encourage their children toward the priesthood or religious life? What did your parents do? Who else influenced your vocation?

More specific question: I think my son would like to consider the priesthood, and I think he would make a great priest, but he can’t imagine not getting married. Help?
 
MissMichal said:
General queston: How can parents encourage their children toward the priesthood or religious life? What did your parents do? Who else influenced your vocation?

More specific question: I think my son would like to consider the priesthood, and I think he would make a great priest, but he can’t imagine not getting married. Help?
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My mom and dad never brought up the issue of anything but getting married. Neither one of them ever discerned a vocation to the priesthood or religious life (my mom wouldn’t be able to enter anyway due to health issues she’s had all her life), so they didn’t know what discernment meant.

The way I discovered my vocation to the religious life was through attending a retreat where I met several religious priests, brothers, and sisters. I was able to ask them questions and see a bit of what their life was like through talks and observation. Perhaps you could consider sending him to one of these retreats hosted by the Franciscans of the Renewal (franciscanfriars.com/). He would be able to talk to the religious priests about a possible vocation. Also, I would recommend that you watch “Fishers of Men” (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=108153) with him. It’s an amazing video and I learned a lot about my calling through it, though I am not called to be a priest. Spiritual direction is a good idea for him as well, regardless of whether or not he is called to be a priest. If he is called to be a good Catholic married man (God bless him), spiritual direction can only strengthen him, not harm him. Ask a priest in your diocese (or the diocesan vocation director; call the diocesan office) to talk to him.

I will keep him in my prayers. Whether he becomes a priest, brother, married man, or remains single, I pray that Christ will bring your son to the fulfillment of His call. God bless you and I pray that you have a blessed Easter!
 
MissMichal said:
General queston: How can parents encourage their children toward the priesthood or religious life? What did your parents do? Who else influenced your vocation?

More specific question: I think my son would like to consider the priesthood, and I think he would make a great priest, but he can’t imagine not getting married. Help?
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I teach a class of high school kids at my parish church. Speakers representing all vocations were invited to class. One speaker Sr. Juanita made a big impression on the students. We took a field trip to visit her convent. That was in early March (2009). Just this past Monday some of my students were asking when we could go back.

So, I would suggest let your son meet people in religious life. Why do so many boys want to be baseball players? Because the see them when they are young. I think, as Sr. Charlene told us, that the best way to make a decision is to first get good information about a vocation. Help your son to get good information and then let him and God sort things out together.

God bless
 
Have you contacted your diocese?

Many of them now have some very good programs for encouraging, or at least exploring the possibility of the priesthood. They might have retreats or evenings of discernment where your son could meet with priests, deacons and other religous and be around other young men that are exploring a vocation to. I agree with CarmeliteGirl25, that Fishers Of Men is something that your son should see. It’s very well done, it’s exciting and I think it could do for the priesthood what “Topgun” did for the Navy!👍

Your son might also consider a religous order, which is different than a diocesan priest. They follow the charism given by there founders and there work varies from missionary work to education to being contemplative and everything in between. In this case, you can do alot of reseach on the net. Just google “catholic religous orders” or put in the order that might interest you, like Franciscan, Passionists, Carmelites, Vincentians etc. and see what comes up. You’ll be amazed at how many orders there are, with many different and varied missions, and all will give you ways to help your son along.

Oh, and as far as your son being unable to picture not getting married someday, I have to think that there are many priests out there today that felt the same way. But your son hasn’t really started the discernment process, and I suspect that once he does, he will better understand which direction to choose. If he has the calling, I believe he will be able to picture himself not being married…

Good luck and God Bless!🙂
 
hello,

to answer the first question is simply nothing. My mother never even mentioned it we have been in the Church for several years and not even once muttered that question. but after see just asked “are u sure” and i said “yes” and she said “ok”. done.

and as for influence i would say nobody. i never had the thought of it until GOD knew I was ready to accept it. i did not go on a retreat there was no great speaker no one prayed for me. I was simply praying I told GOD that i dont want what i want i want what u want and i felt the greatest peace and he spoke to me “study because I will need you one day”. at first i did not understand what it meant i thought study simple stuff like the catechism and the bible and thats it. but after a change of lifestyle like going to mass every other day confesing once a week, fasting and praying every single second when i had a chance. i was able to discern that i had that vocation.

as for your son not imaganing not getting married i would say that is normal. i went through the same phase. we are all called to be in relationships. that is why GOD created us in the first place. as soon as he gets more aware of how important and wonderful it is he will accept it. it was funny i was talking to a friend. i want to have children but my vocation wont allow me but then i had an epiphany if i get married i will have maybe 3-4 kids but if im a priest i will have hundreds or even thounsands so that road is a lot better.

to have that vocation it has to be a drive to save souls and to free people from the world satan and the flesh
 
himynameisjorge said:
hello,

to answer the first question is simply nothing. My mother never even mentioned it we have been in the Church for several years and not even once muttered that question. but after see just asked “are u sure” and i said “yes” and she said “ok”. done.

and as for influence i would say nobody. i never had the thought of it until GOD knew I was ready to accept it. i did not go on a retreat there was no great speaker no one prayed for me. I was simply praying I told GOD that i dont want what i want i want what u want and i felt the greatest peace and he spoke to me “study because I will need you one day”. at first i did not understand what it meant i thought study simple stuff like the catechism and the bible and thats it. but after a change of lifestyle like going to mass every other day confesing once a week, fasting and praying every single second when i had a chance. i was able to discern that i had that vocation.
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Hi Jorge,

I think you are very fortunate to have heard the calling and followed through with it on your own.

I’m on the vocation committee at my parish and have been to a few meetings from my diocese and they seem to say that many young men that have a possible calling will let it fall away simply because nobody ever asked them if they felt a calling or didn’t know which way to take the calling because they were never asked or approached by anyone. It’s kind of like like a ripe tomatoe that withers on the vine because nobody picked it when it was ripe. Many young men will move on quickly and become easily distracted because “focus” is not normally a young mans strong point! 😃

All there saying is ask, don’t push, because in the end it’s up to the individual to discern, but one must at least ask. Thats there take anyway, although you didn’t need that.

I guess as your post has shown, there are many ways to the Lord!🙂
 
For me, the idea has been around in my head since I was little. I had a grandmother who is nothing but holy who would tell me every time I saw her, “you would make a great priest, someday.” My grandfather before he passed made a comment much to the same idea.

Even with all of that I rejected the thought. It wasn’t until I opened myself up to to God after a time of pain…I was engaged and thought I was in control of everything…then we let God decide and He didn’t think that marriage was in my future. That was hard to accept, especially when you already have most of the wedding/future planned.

I had some great help from my diocesan vocations director and some other priests who I was close to. I would say recommend some retreats! They are so recharging and if anything they make you think about Christ for a weekend and how He has been working in your life. As it has been said…enable don’t force. Help him open the doors to Christ and if Christ is calling him at this point, pray that he will follow.

I think the best thing you can do is to pray for him. If you enjoy praying the Rosary, say one for him and his vocation every day. St. Monica (St. Augustine’s Mother), prayed for his soul everyday and look how that turned out! Mothers play a huge role in every man’s life…Pray to the Mother of us all, Mary!

God bless.
 
jimcav said:
Hi Jorge,

I think you are very fortunate to have heard the calling and followed through with it on your own.

I’m on the vocation committee at my parish and have been to a few meetings from my diocese and they seem to say that many young men that have a possible calling will let it fall away simply because nobody ever asked them if they felt a calling or didn’t know which way to take the calling because they were never asked or approached by anyone. It’s kind of like like a ripe tomatoe that withers on the vine because nobody picked it when it was ripe. Many young men will move on quickly and become easily distracted because “focus” is not normally a young mans strong point! 😃

All there saying is ask, don’t push, because in the end it’s up to the individual to discern, but one must at least ask. Thats there take anyway, although you didn’t need that.

I guess as your post has shown, there are many ways to the Lord!🙂
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Can’t agree more about vocations falling away … I just came across a quote from the Archdiocese of Brisbane in Australia which said that the number one reason why young people don’t even consider a vocation is that nobody asked them, and that came from youngsters.
I find that sad.
 
MissMichal said:
General queston: How can parents encourage their children toward the priesthood or religious life? What did your parents do? Who else influenced your vocation?

More specific question: I think my son would like to consider the priesthood, and I think he would make a great priest, but he can’t imagine not getting married. Help?
Click to expand...
I think you shouldn’t encourage or discourage him from the priesthood, especially for the marriage fact. It is a lifesytle more than a career. If he is being called, it will be evident.

Until you know. Support is Awesome =D. And take what I say in moderation. Every household is different, and every person gets messages differently. It is of course, just my opinion.
 
Not sure how old your son is, but I was suddenly awakened at 12 that I had a vocation to be a priest. It became so important that I pressed the bell of my local church presbytery and spoke to the priest.
I’m now just 15 and life has become more complex - I didn’t know what celibacy meant at 12 (now I do thank God) but I have to say that despite all the problems the vocation will not go away… God keeps prodding me. I have never told my parents that my heart longs to be a priest - I don’t need to. I know they know. The only person I have told is my Grandpa (interesting how teens sometimes skip parents isn’t it?). He told me ‘John don’t be a priest - be the best priest ever’.

If a son becomes a priest he will be another Christ to our world - don’t worry about grandchildren, you will have given God a very special gift just as He gave you the same gift of new life.

I am only a teen, but a few of us have set up a special vocations site - teens talking to teens about their vocations.
www,catholicpriest.me.uk
 
I would say to parents to just be open to the possibilities. Openness means making your son feel he can talk to you about it with no fear of being lectured or made to feel guilty. If a son or daughter realizes that their parents are supportive they can then feel free to explore the possibilities and seek out more information. Parental pressure can be communicated in some subtle ways that young people can pick up very easily.
 
:rotfl: ADHD is standard equipment for boys!

I don’t want to push him, but I want to plant the seed early (he’s 10), especially since I’ve heard loud and clear through prayer that GOD WANTS THAT BOY. I’m not totally sure for what, but I want him to stay very close to God and keep his ears open especially for his vocation. I haven’t said “you should be a priest/friar/deacon/whatever,” but I have praised our priests (they’re Dominicans) and talked about how cool priests are. For example, when he asked why Dominicans wear the black capes on their habits, I told them it was because they’re Jesus’ superheroes. I try to keep the topic alive without being pushy.

As for grandchildren, they don’t actually hold that great an appeal for me, because nothing in the world would make me happier than for my boy to give himself to God! Thanks for the encouragement and please pray for me and my little guy.

Pax,
-S-
 
Our parents talked and talked about our being married but I think they sensed what’s in our hearts. Last January we visited an aunt and my dad mentioned that we are going to become priests (we never told him… and i feel more interest to religious life). My aunt replied, “NO! You will just waste what you have now!”
 
Although it is nice you want big for your son, you should wait a little. If GOD does want your son as a priest, your son will get messages, too. If he meets a nice girl in time, he might get the wrong idea about not being with her. He is only 10. He has 8 years before he even goes to college, and 12 before seminary. He’ll get his signs if it’s what GOD wants 🙂

-Cody
 
MissMichal said:
“We”? Like, you and your brother? How awesome is that ?!
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is it directed to me? yes, it’s we… me and my twin brother. we’re not very open about our vocation but we know each other’s plans. 😃
 
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