Vocations and Discernment-Advice needed

[JohnnyReb]

I am returning to the forums after an absence.

My engagement fell apart, and frankly I am not upset about it. I feel more free than I have in a long time.

Each time I think about having a vocation, my desire for prayer and for spiritual growth grows. In the periods of time when I was more focused on say, my relationship with my former fiance, I grew spiritually stagnant.

Perhaps I should meet with a vocations director? I do not know. I am intimidated by the process.

 

[Dave]

Perhaps I should meet with a vocations director? I do not know. I am intimidated by the process.

Don’t be intimidated at all! Vocations directors aren’t going to be standing over you with a pen in hand trying to get you to ‘sign up’. Their job is to help you discern your vocation, not decide it for you. If you are feeling a possible call, you owe it to yourself - and more importantly - to Christ to at least explore the possibility.

God Bless!

 

[JohnnyReb]

Thanks Dave. I am sure it won’t be a high pressured meeting. I would welcome the idea of having someone to help me discern what God may be calling me to.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Each time I think about having a vocation, my desire for prayer and for spiritual growth grows. In the periods of time when I was more focused on say, my relationship with my former fiance, I grew spiritually stagnant…

Dear JohnnyReb,
Ave Maria.

It is interesting that Saint Paul echoes these same sentiments to the Corinthians, (Chapter 7);

“It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman. [v.1] Indeed, I wish that everyone were like I am [celibate]. [v.7] I should like you to be free from anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord; how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world; how he may please his wife, and he is divided. [v.32] Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.” [v.28] (see also Mark 12:18-27, Mtt 19:10-12, 2 Timothy Ch. 2:3)

Blessings.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Dear JohnnyReb,
Ave Maria.

It is interesting that Saint Paul echoes these same sentiments to the Corinthians, (Chapter 7);

“It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman. [v.1] Indeed, I wish that everyone were like I am [celibate]. [v.7] I should like you to be free from anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord; how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world; how he may please his wife, and he is divided. [v.32] Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.” [v.28] (see also Mark 12:18-27, Mtt 19:10-12, 2 Timothy Ch. 2:3)

Blessings.

Paul knew what he was talking about. He speaks the truth. At the very least, I can use this time to get my life spiritually refocused and to see what God could be calling me to do.

I hear alot on these boards about vocation directors and spiritual directors/ guides. What’s the difference? Is there any? I know the vocation director’s job is to aid a person in finding what their vocation is, but what about spiritual direction?

I am a convert to the faith. I studied to be a protestant minister before converting. I want to be sure that I have not entertained this thought (of a possible vocation) just because I studied to be a minister at one time, and this would be the “Catholic” way of becoming a minister. I had sort of have '“given up” on the ministry and have been content to do secular work.

When I converted, I had family (both Catholic and Protestant) ask me, “So are you going to become a priest now?” My response was, if God calls. I do not want to presume anything or put the cart before the horse.

Yet, is it possible that these are some of the reasons why I could be called of God? I don’t know.

 

[Peter_Canisius]

I am not quite in the same situation as you, but, if I may, I would like to recommend a book. Priests for the Third Millennium by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan who was the former Rector of the North American College in Rome. His book addresses the spirituality necessary for the priesthood, and for that matter, the spirituality necessary to be Christian! So whatever you feel called to do, this is an excellent book to read and pass on to someone else. The ISBN: 0-87973-319-5

 

[JohnnyReb]

I got the book after reading reviews about it, and will read it as soon as it comes.

I also watched the fishers of men video. What a moving experience. Now I know that I cannot take a possible call to the priesthood lightly or be too presumptuous in any way. I do owe it to God to at least consider the idea and take all the time that is necessary to discern if I am being called. If I am, I owe it to him to follow no matter what. If I am not being called, I at least own Christ my entire life. Thanks

 

[Rising_Suns]

I got the book after reading reviews about it, and will read it as soon as it comes.

I also watched the fishers of men video. What a moving experience. Now I know that I cannot take a possible call to the priesthood lightly or be too presumptuous in any way. I do owe it to God to at least consider the idea and take all the time that is necessary to discern if I am being called. If I am, I owe it to him to follow no matter what. If I am not being called, I at least own Christ my entire life. Thanks

JohnnyReb,
If you like the Fisher’s of men video, you may also like the other vocation videos on this site;

religious-vocation.com/media_links.html

Blessings.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Ok, I contacted the Diocese with my contact information. When I submitted my contact info, the site said that I would be contacted shortly. I did not know if this would be within a day, week or month.

Should I contact the vocations director in a direct way or wait for any materials to come in the mail to read over first?

 

[Rising_Suns]

Should I contact the vocations director in a direct way or wait for any materials to come in the mail to read over first?

JohnnyReb,
If you don’t here from them in a couple days, I would call the vocations director directly. Sometimes a diocese can be understaffed or overworked, which may require a little more persistence.

May the Blessed Virgin be with you.

 

[JohnnyReb]

This is the e-mail I sent to my vocations director today.

I hope your day is going well. I would like to ask a few questions of you but don’t really know where to begin. I am sensing a possible vocation to the priesthood, and I would like to know what I should do to discern if this is a genuine call or not. I am 27 years old and never have been married, nor have children. I studied to be a minister and obtained a master of divinity degree from an evangelical seminary in June 2006. I was raised in the Southern Baptist church and at a very young age, felt called to the ministry. After graduating from college, I entered seminary with the idea that I would become a minister. Through my studies of church history and theology, I discovered the truth of the Catholic church. I wrestled with what I knew to be true, and my career goals. Eventually, I decided that I should be confirmed. I came into the church at Easter. However, after graduation from seminary, I returned home to help my mother after my dad’s premature death from cancer. I obtained my teaching license and thought that all I would do for the rest of my life is teach. I thought the door was closed on the ministry for the rest of my life. In a lot of ways, I was relieved that it was. My teaching career became my focus. It still is currently my focus.

However, the call to ministry will not go away. I need some spiritual direction, but I am not sure how to go about finding it. Is it possible that the Lord would begin to call me (if he is) so soon after joining the church? I have ask “Why can’t I just enjoy the scenery of being a faithful Catholic?” Then again, who I am to tell the Lord what he should do? God cannot be put in a box.

I have read over the vocations section of the the Diocese’s website thoroughly. What do I do next?

Thanks and many blessings

 

[JohnnyReb]

I still have not heard anything from the vocations director. E-mail is easily over looked, and I wonder if my e-mail was. I will give the vocations director a week or two to respond. If he does not, should I call him directly? Or should I inquire to see if my parish has someone who handles vocations?

To anyone else who is discerning or this may apply to:

How long did it take for the vocations directors to get back to you when you first inquired? I am trying not to be impatient, but I would have thought I would have received some kind of generic response by now at the very least. Perhaps I am guilty of being impatient. Am I?

 

[JohnnyReb]

Come to think of it, this time of year is probably a real busy one for vocations directors-(conferences, sending young men off to seminary, travelling and taking vacations themselves) so I guess it should not surprise me if I do not hear back for a while. I may even have to wait to the fall when things settle down before trying again.

No problem for me, it gives me time to think, study, pray and see what direction my life takes.

 

[nightwalker]

I still have not heard anything from the vocations director. E-mail is easily over looked, and I wonder if my e-mail was. I will give the vocations director a week or two to respond. If he does not, should I call him directly? Or should I inquire to see if my parish has someone who handles vocations?

I doubt your parish does, although some parishes are or involved with giving spiritual direction, particularly to those discerning. But as you pointed out elsewhere this is “crunch time” for vocations directors (I am trying to finish off my requirements for entering today).

It is also a common time for diocesan priests to try to take vacation (or a pilgrimage to Sydney). Priests who work in the diocesan office will be used to help cover parishes.

Give it a few more days then try to contact him again. Perhaps a praying a novena while you wait for a response to the next call will help it go quicker.

 

[1234]

Come to think of it, this time of year is probably a real busy one for vocations directors-(conferences, sending young men off to seminary, travelling and taking vacations themselves) so I guess it should not surprise me if I do not hear back for a while. I may even have to wait to the fall when things settle down before trying again.

No problem for me, it gives me time to think, study, pray and see what direction my life takes.

I am amazed than you haven’t heard back, even a note saying thanks for the email, I’ll get back to you.

Honestly. I mean , there’s this huge shortage of vocations and a nice fellow like you sends a good email request and…

nothing?!

If this had been an e-mail request to a religious order, you can bet your last dollar, you’d get a response pronto.

 

[JohnnyReb]

I am amazed than you haven’t heard back, even a note saying thanks for the email, I’ll get back to you.

Honestly. I mean , there’s this huge shortage of vocations and a nice fellow like you sends a good email request and…

nothing?!

If this had been an e-mail request to a religious order, you can bet your last dollar, you’d get a response pronto.

I have been talking with someone from the coming home network who seems very eager to get me in touch with the right people in my area. I am surprised I have not heard back too, but having other people in my corner may help me with the process.